Venturing into Tuoro sul Trasimeno’s wooded areas is bound to be an interesting experience for visitors, who will be able to appreciate not only the beauty of nature, but also be fascinated by the remains of the Castello di Vernazzano.
On the slopes of Monte Castiglione, on a rocky area about 25-30 metres high, stood the ancient settlement of Vernazzano. The walls of the fortification delimited a triangular surface and were accessible only from one side, while the other two sides overlooked sheer drops. The elevated position gave the castle a certain authority and dominion and guaranteed security for the ancient village.
The earliest documents attesting to the existence of the Castle date back to 960 and show that it belonged to the Abbazia di S. Maria di Petroia.
Between the 13th and 18th centuries, the number of people living in the Castle varied considerably; in 1282, 52 families were recorded, a figure that was drastically reduced to 26 families by the 15th century. At the end of the 18th century, on the other hand, the number of inhabitants had increased to 365.
Today, only a few elements of the ancient fortress remain, such as some parts of the church of Santa Maria delle Trosce and the Tower that was built in the 13th century to defend the ancient Castle. The latter is surrounded by a lush vegetation and is supported by several stay wires since at the moment there is a considerable slope, reaching as high as 13%, following the earthquakes that occurred in the area and the subsidence of the underlying terrain.
Currently the people who once lived in the area marked out by the castle’s boundary walls live in a new residential area further down the valley.