About Panicale

Why just Panicale?

Panicale is a small medieval castle that sits on its hill overlooking Lake Trasimeno. An ordinary village in the region of Umbria, the green heart of Italy, but at the same time also quite extraordinary.

While you avoid tourist buses and intrusive sales pitches here, you are immersed in everything that has contributed to making Italy famous: history, art, food.

Pagan gods, saints, powerful popes and warlords have forever left their mark on this small ordinary village. But above all, you get to meet the people of the village; in the bars, in the square and in the shops. Here you will find the genuine Italy with its timeless atmosphere as well as a spontaneous hospitality and kindness that adds something extra to your stay. 

Be sure to find out how the villagers themselves have fun. You can participate in the wine harvest festivity, the oil festivity, the chestnut festivity, the cheese competition and the Easter processions through the village's squares, gates and alleys. The musical repertoire is also large, from concerts given in the piazza to pure opera performances at the historical Teatro Caporali.

When the desire for adventure beckons, there are many nice excursion destinations within easy reach. On your own you can also walk on the trails that lead to Mount Pietrasvella or to the old Capuchin monastery. And if you have a car, you can visit the local wineries La Querciolana, Il Boschetto or Tenuta Lamborghini. In the summer, there is swimming at the water park in Tavernelle or at Lake Trasimeno. For those who want to be a little more active, there are longer treks for walking and mountain biking. Cyclists like to bike on the winding roads around Panicale.

Only a few kilometers away are the Umbrian cities of Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto where you can also enjoy a wonderful classic atmosphere and many historic sights. In short, here is everything for those who want to enjoy the good life: genuine Italian food, culture and a gorgeous environment that permeates and surrounds the village. 

Facts about Panicale

Origin of the name: from the Latin Panis collis. "The place that pleases the god Pan" but perhaps also from the Greek Pan Kalòn, "Where everything is beautiful".

Circumference of the village (corresponding to the old moat): 800 meters (= ½ mile).

Population in the village: about 560

Population in the whole municipality: 5226

Age: Mentioned as Panicale for the first time in 40 BC but has existed long before that (1300s–1100s BC). However, the current structure is from the early Middle Ages. The outer defense wall is from the 13th century while the upper dwellings are from the 17th century.

Monuments and museums

Monuments and museums are plenty, such as the small theater Cesare Caporali from 1858, the many churches, Perugino’s and Masolino's renaissance frescoes in S. Michele Arcangelos and San Sebastiano Church, the Fountain from 1473, the museums; one for needlework in lace in S. Agostino, and one for church textiles in S. Maria alla Sbarra.  Do not miss the old town hall Podestà-palace from the 14th century at the top of the village as you stroll through the narrow alleys on your own and feel the wind of history. The tourist office located on the square arranges guided tours to special and unique places.