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Lake Bolsena, in the province of Viterbo, is of volcanic origin – hence its oval shape. It’s fed by an emissary river and has two islands, Bisentina, and the smaller Martana.
The former covers an area of 42 acres. it preserves traces of ancient Etruscan and Roman dwellers, with more recent monuments, such as the church of Santi Giacomo and Cristoforo del Vignola, with its majestic dome, the Franciscan convent, the Rocchina, the small temple of Santa Caterina – built on an Etruscan columbarium rising from a spur of rock overlooking the lake, and the chapel of the Crucifix – with frescoes from the 15th century. There is also the “Popes’ Malta Island”, which used to serve for life imprisonment of clerics guilty of heresy.

The winding outline of the island has western inlets, Mount Tabor to the north, and eastern rocky cliffs overlooking the lake, with a lush south side. It is home to almost uncontaminated nature, featuring thick holm oak woods (Quercus ilex), Italian gardens, and enchanting sights.

The crystal-clear waters of the lake meet the land in an area full of reeds (Phragmites australis), herringbone with narrow leaves (Typha angustifolia), the fishbone (Schoenoplectus lacustris), and meadows full of rushes (Juncus spp.), horsetails (Equisetum spp.), and nutsedges (Cyperus spp.).

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)