Punta Macerone Nature Park was created on the peninsula of the same name that reaches out into Lake Trasimeno. Its location and conformation have created a special wetland environment, suitable for various species of wildlife: the traveller could admire especially waterfowl and migratory birds.

Brief history

The estuary of the Macerone stream stretches about 600 meters into the waters of Lake Trasimeno along the northern shore. This peninsula, called Punta Macerone, is thus formed by the accumulation of debris carried by the Macerone stream during flood events. Although the torrent had a small flow rate, the sediments seeped deeply into the lake, given its shallow depth, and weak water currents.

It should be mentioned that the original name of the stream was Sanguineto, and that this derived from the tradition that its waters were dyed red by the blood of the Romans killed by Hannibal and his troops at the Battle of Lake Trasimeno. The present name, Macerone was introduced in the 18th century and is said to derive instead from the custom of cramming along its banks the millstones of hemp, a plant abundantly cultivated in the area in times past to obtain its fibers.

Then, in the late 19th century, a new outlet on Lake Trasimeno was built to regiment its water level. From this it followed that the level of the lake dropped considerably, and the obstruction of the natural flow of water brought by the debris had heavy consequences on Punta Macerone and the stream that flowed in it. In fact, the course of the stream was diverted eastward, while the shoreline on the end of Punta Macerone after World War II was transformed into the beach of the toreggiana – the local inhabitants – while the remaining banks presented a rich array of aquatic plants and reeds, suitable for nesting fish and birds.