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Hotel Viterbo

Bolsena Lake

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Situated in Lazio at 304 meters above sea level, Bolsena lake is the largest lake, of volcanic origin, in Europe. Its perimeters measure at 43 kilometers and its surface area is approximately 114 square kilometers with a drainage basin of 273 square kilometers and a maximum depth of 146 meters.
It derives from the Vulsini Mountains range and occupies a series of craterous cavities, that date back to the Pliocene period (10 - 2 million years ago) with two islands found in the lake; Bisentina and Martana, both emerging craterous residues.
Having numerous affluent torrents, the only effluent river is River Marta, which, beginning its course from the town of Bolsena, it flows into the Tyrrhenian sea in Tarquinia. The lake represents the curious phenomenon of sesse, meaning sudden variations of depth of which the precise cause is still unknown.

History
The territory around Lake Bolsena has been inhabited from prehistoric times (traces of human life, dating back to the Neolithic age up to the Bronze age, have been found) by the Villanoviana, Etruscan and Roman civilizations and in late medieval times, it became dominion of the Church; it was Pope Paul III Farnese who instituted the Duchy of Castro in the area, later trusting it to his son Pier Luigi: it was at this time that the territory saw a period of re-found well being which can be seen in the passion of the buildings that feed the constructive opera with magnificent buildings and villas ready to welcome noble Roman families who came to spend their summers there.
In 1649, the Duchy was turned over and the area returned to the dominion of the Church. During the 17th century the rising of the water level of the lake favoured the spread of malaria wiping out the entire towns of Bisnezio and Borghetto, while others relocated towards higher ground (San Lorenzo). After the Union of Italy, banditry became a phenomenon in the area and wasn't defeated until the following century when the territory fell under the control of the fascist regime.
After WWII, the lake went through a period of decline and abandonment, mainly due to the lack of job opportunities; the economy, even today, is based primarily on agriculture and tourism which could be a future factor of strong territorial development.

Plant and Animal life
The coasts of Lake Bolsena are of a prevalent sandy base and framed with thick cane, above all in the western part of the lake. Not far from the shore one can see buttercups, flowering cane, and mushroom grass; found among the aquatic plants are; water lentils, lagoon dross, water milfoil, and deeper down, tench grass, and major and minor frogs.

The most common arboreous species found along the banks are oaks, chestnut, vine and olive while on the island of Bisentina, a precious holm-oak woods (nominated in 1979 by the Italian Botanica Society) is found and, on both islands, a Mediterranean vegetation prevails.
The limpid waters that characterize the lake (from which the nick-name "the lake you can drink" comes, and the tradition of fishermen who cook their typical fish soup "la sbroscia" in the lake water) have permitted the development of a variety of piscine species: one can find carp, tench, white fish, royal perch, pike, rudd, grey mullet, sand smelt, river crawfish, catfish, eel and others.
Aquatic bird species who rest near the lake during migration are also abundant and include: white herons, coots, grebes, dun-birds, widgeons, dabchicks, and other various egret species. During winter other species like the loon and the sea crow while permanent residents include the seagull, doves and swan.
Amphibians and reptiles are also well represented with various species of frogs and triton but unfortunately some exotic species are found in the water, put there by man, that have revealed harmful for the ecosystem of the lake; sun perch, north American turtle, catfish and the aquatic rodent coypu.
Other threats to the environment of the lake are represented in the cutting of the cane (nesting place for many birds) to make space for beaches, the use of pesticides and herbicides for cultivation most likely causing alterations of the water layers.

The Territorial Museum of Lake Bolsena
Address: Rocca Monaldeschi, Bolsena
Tel. 0761-798630
Hours:
Winter: 10 am to 1 pm open in the afternoons on Saturday and Sunday from 3 pm to 4 pm
Summer:10 am t0 1 pm / 4 pm to 8 pm closed on Mondays.
Tickets:
Full Price: €3,50
Reduced: €2,00 for groups of at least 10 people and those under 18 years old and over 65 years old who possess a museum card.
Tickets include a panoramic visit at the towers, while the price of visiting the towers only is €2,00

The museum is found inside the Rocca Monaldeschi of the Cervara exhibiting fundamental historical stages of the lake beginning with its formation and alterations that came during the centuries with findings that are testimony to the passage of various civilizations that settled in the area, from the prehistoric to modern day.

Touristic Activity
The waters of the lake offer the visitor the possibility to participate in various sport activities from fishing to sailing and windsurfing and both naturalistic and cultural excursions are organized as well in the surrounding towns of Bolsena, Marta, Capodimonte, Grotte di Castro, Montefiascone, up to Tuscania, Tarquinia, the necropolises of Castel d'Asso, Selva del Lamone. The island of Bisentina, rich with monuments and splendid naturalistic landscapes is navigable with motorboats that leave from Capodimonte while it is not possible to visit the island of Martana, made famous by the fact that the Queen of Goti Amalasunta died here and also because it is now private property.
The banks of Bolseno lake offer one the possibility to enjoy local specialties- above all fish dishes- in the numerous restaurants found there as well as places to stay like hotels, camping, country farmhouse lodging and bed and breakfasts.
Among the most opoular festivals is the elaborate and artistic "Infiorata" (flower festival) on the 18th of June held on the occasion of Corpus Dominus and the patron saint day of Bolsena, Saint Cristina, the 23rd and 24th of July with a live representation of the Mysteries of the Saint.

How to get there:
Lake Bolsena is found about 30 kilometers north-east of Viterbo and can be reached by taking the state highway SS 2 Cassia up to Montefiascone and then following indications for the lake.
Another route is the SS 1 Aurelia up to Montalto di Castro then following indications for Valentano.
From the autostrada A1 take the Orvieto exit and follow in the direction of Viterbo, then Bolsena.