Discover San Savino: Nature, Culture and Holiday Apartments

Holiday apartment in San Savino amid nature and history

San Savino combines the wetlands of the Oasi Naturalistica La Valle with impressive traces of a long local and ecclesiastical history. When choosing a holiday apartment in San Savino, it is therefore worth considering both sides: nature provides a special focus for your holiday, while churches, the castle and medieval buildings offer opportunities for historical discoveries.

Wetlands and nature experiences at Lake Trasimeno

The focal point is the Oasi Naturalistica La Valle, a wetland covering approximately 1,000 hectares and of great ornithological importance. Shallow waters and extensive reed beds shape the landscape. At the same time, the oasis is an important resting and breeding site along the migratory routes from Northern Europe to Africa south of the Sahara. It lies within the Regional Natural Park of Lake Trasimeno, thereby combining characteristic landscapes with an exceptional connection to the birdlife.

The Oasi Naturalistica La Valle can be visited independently, either alone or in groups of up to nine people. Guided tours of the oasis can be booked for groups of at least ten participants. It also has accessible paths and texts in Braille, enabling a visit open to everyone. This means that the natural area can be incorporated into your travel plans in different ways, depending on the group size and the type of exploration you prefer.

Churches, castle and medieval traces

The church of San Savino was consecrated in 1747 after restoration by Francesco Riccardo Ferniani, the Bishop of Perugia. The Parrocchia di San Savino is already documented in a cadastre drawn up at the beginning of the 16th century. Together, these references give the town an ecclesiastical historical depth that combines well with a stay focused on lake and cultural experiences.

The history of San Savino’s old parish church is also connected with the church of Santa Maria Maddalena. When the old parish church near Lake Trasimeno was at risk of collapsing, pastoral care was moved to the church of Santa Maria Maddalena, located inside the castle. It took over the name San Savino and received the baptismal font.

At Castello di San Savino, the earliest known record of the fortified settlement dates from 1006. At that time, Pietro Attone da Todi founded a monastery at this site dedicated to Saint Savino, Bishop and Martyr of Sulmona. The surviving medieval remains include the walls, a pointed-arch gate, the well, the triangular keep and remains of residential buildings. The triangular tower of San Savino is considered a landmark of the town and a unique example of medieval architecture at Lake Trasimeno.

Near San Savino, by the nature oasis, visitors can also see the remains of the drainage channel built by Braccio Fortebraccio. Braccio Fortebraccio was lord of Perugia from 1416 to 1424; the channel was constructed on the remains of a Roman structure.

Routes and different holiday focuses

The Via del Trasimeno includes a stage from San Savino to Panicale. The Ciclovia Perugia-Trasimeno also reaches San Savino, where it joins the Ciclovia del Trasimeno. These two connections provide different starting points for your plans if you would like to combine cultural sightseeing with nature or cycling experiences when choosing a holiday apartment.

Local traditions and Umbrian cuisine

The Pro Loco San Savino can be traced back to 1996. Its activities include the traditional village festival Sagra del Gambero; for 2026, it was announced for the period from 21 August to 30 August 2026. At the Sagra del Gambero e del Pesce del Lago Trasimeno, a different menu is served every evening, featuring meat and fish dishes prepared according to the culinary tradition of Umbria. Alongside nature and history, this gives San Savino another enjoyable dimension.

Further destinations for regional orientation

For further orientation, you can also find Uppello, Bonsciano, Porchiano, Vaiano, Fratta Todina, Tuoro Sul Trasimeno, Monte Petriolo and Corcia here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Perugia.