Presentazione relativa al Patrimonio culturale e storico di Castiglione del Lago, elaborata dai discenti dell'associazione Italia Nostra Onlus Sez. Castiglione del Lago.

1. OPENGATE
LLP Grundtvig Project
CULTURAL HERITAGE
&
OLD TRADITIONS

2. AGILLA E TRASIMENO – The Myth and the dance
The group “Agilla e Trasimeno” was born in the 1957, is involved in keep alive some forms of
popular culture and civilization, like old folk dance, music, costumes and another tradiscion of the
Trasimeno lake.
The costumes are the same dressed in the XIX centrury.
The name of the group comes from an old myth.
There are several stories and legends over lake Trasimeno and most of them revolve around the
Agilla, nymph of the lake and prince Trasimeno son of the God Tyrrhenium.
The love between the nymph
and the prince bloomed in
one of lake Trasimeno's
island called Polvese. The
story tells that one day
Trasimeno got attracted from
an angelic singing to island
Polvese.
And there Trasimeno and
Agilla saw each other for the
first time and it was love at
first sight.
But destiny was against
them and their happiness
lasted only one day, the day
in which they met and got
married.
Old traditions in Castiglione del Lago

3. The day after their marriage
Trasimeno decided to have a
swim in the lake and while
Agilla was standing on the
seashore Trasimeno got
suddenly under the water and
never came back up again.
His body was never found
and Agilla never gave up the
hope to be one day reunited
to her beloved Trasimeno so
she kept looking for him day
after day after day.
The grieving nymph spent up
to her last few days of life
searching for Trasimeno and
on a little boat Agilla would
check each and every boat in
the lake looking for her
missing love.
The fishermen say that when
in summer the wind blowing
from Toscany comes this way
you can hear Agilla crying. And when sailors cross the lake and sudden waves shake the boat they say
is Agilla's spirit who believes to have found her true and only love again. Here is Agilla's love song for
her Trasimeno.
The musical instruments are: accordion, harpsichord, guitar, clarinet, accordion and double bass, that
accompany these dances Sor Cesare, Punta e Tacco, Trescone, Lo Schiaffo e La Manfrina.

4. THE “SEGA LA VECCHIA” ANIMATION
The old saw is an ancient representation of mid-Lent of the rural
world.
A group of amateur actors visited the houses of the countryside
and staged a performance in burlesque character in which an
oak tree (the old) is symbolically cut down and sawn by two
sawyers, to rise up between dances, songs and other
manifestations of joy .
OLD RURAL EVENT

5. Farming was Castiglione del Lago's principal
source of edible goods during the Middle Ages.
One of the elements that united land and village
was the weekly market, when slaves and
farmers were received within the city walls.
From ancient times to the present, having a
market was very important for a village as it
could influence the economic situation of an
entire population.
After a pontifical injunction in 1548, Castiglione
del Lago had the privilege of a weekly market
on Wednesday assigned, previously it was
accorded to the village of Panicale.
The importance of the market for Castiglione del Lago
Panicale had been managing the market since the 13° century and after the concession was
withdrawn and given to Castiglione del Lago, a distinct inversion of the economical trend between
the two villages occurred.
In the early XIX Century was prohibited to sell farming produce or meat coming from the farm
outside the markets. Therefore the villages that held a market within its city walls had a lot of
benefits and good income due to the economic dealers present at it. Every merchant and farmer
had to pay an entrance fee and was liable to a duty for the occupation of public soil necessary to
obtain the right of trading.

6. FAGIOLINA DEL LAGO – from the cheapest to the most expensive typical product
Legume typical of the area of Lake Trasimeno where the presence of humid soils has favored the
cultivation. The main features of Fagiolina of the lake are the small size of the seed white and its
taste tender, buttery.
Until the Second World War Fagiolina was the main source of protein for local people, but because
of the progressive depopulation of the countryside and of the difficulties of cultivation was gradually
disappearing until you find a new boost production. In August 2002was founded the Consortium
Fagiolina of Lake Trasimeno. Today Fagiolina represent the most expensive vegetable that grow up
in our area.
The peculiarity of this legume is how it’s worked… all It’s handmade and the techniques of collection
and work are the same since several centuries.

7. PESCA DEL TORO
The fishery of the bulls is an
ancient method of fishing that
involved the whole
community for a long period
of time.
The term derives from the
Latin bull "torus" which
means "pile" and refers to the
piles of fagots, this is where
tench and eels would be
displaced during the winter.
In June, the fishermen began
to prepare the bull with the
cutting of the fronds.
In summer the leaves were
then placed in large heaps
submerged.
Around the pile was preparing
a double palisade that formed
a circular corridor on which
was hung a network of hemp
that was down to the bottom
of the lake.
At this point the fish were pushed into the corridor, where they took refuge in bundles suspended in the
water.
After a break of five or six hours the fishermen raise the second portion of the network trapping the fish
in a river bed circular, which, except for the fagots, was reduced until it could pass the fish in a net bag
("the mutilated") to bring them to shore.

8. FESTA DEL TULIPANO – the main Event in castiglione del Lago since 1956
The first edition of “Festa del Tulipano” was in 1956.
The feast of the tulip born in Castiglione del Lago since 1956 in the month of April, organized by the 'Tourist
Association Castiglione”, and immediately starts to attracts tens of thousands of spectators.
The parade of floats prepared by the five districts and exclusively decorated with tulips, is the highlight of the
event, which will include the opening of taverns, play in renaissance costumes.
The five districts run the “Palio of the Tulip”. During the manifestation there is also a parade in ancient dress
and a revival of the renaissance duel between Duke della Corgna and Mr. Taddei.
CULTURAL HERITAGE

9. The Saint Maria Maddalena’s DAY.
Every year, the 22nd
July Castiglione del Lago is in celebration of the patron saint Maria
Maddalena.
The atmosphere is very evocative overall when starts the procession on the lake with the old
monument of Maria Maddalena in the biggest boat.
The route it’s all around the peninsula of Castiglione del Lago and every year a lot of citizens, with
their boat, start the ritual trip to say thanks to Maria Maddalena.
This tradition is very very old, it’s an occasion to strenght the community in our town, pupils,
adults, grand parents take part in the event in the name of friendship, respect and charity.
22nd
July 2014

10. Lago Trasimeno
22nd
July 2014

11. Reenactment of Della Corgna’s Family in Della Corgna Palace.
Every year for the death of the Duke Ascanio della Corgna, a group of citizens, dressed in
renaissance style create a reenactment about the glorious adventures of the Duke.
The location it’s the real old palace of Della Corgna Family, located in the old town of Castiglione
del Lago, which id totally frescoed. In this frescos the are the history of this family, wars, duels,
commerce….
The show it’s an unusual way to understand the history of our town and of this family, very
important, at European level, during the 16 century.