Visit the Town of Bolsena and Its Iconic Lake

The starting point of your itinerary is Rome. You will take a 2-hour drive heading North to get to the lovely city of Bolsena, on the eastern shore of Lake Bolsena.

Bolsena is a beautiful medieval town built along the lake it shares its name with (the Lake of Bolsena) located strategically between the regions of Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany.
The origins of Bolsena date back to the third century. B.C. when the area, formerly the site of important settlements, was populated by the inhabitants who fled the destruction of Velzna, one of the most important Etruscan cities; the fugitives re-founded the city giving it the same name (in the form that in Latin will become Volsinii). Starting from the 4th century the city experienced a gradual contraction and the Volsinian community settled on the cliff that houses the medieval quarter of the Castle and which will constitute the first inhabited nucleus of today's Bolsena.
Just a couple of hours drive North of Rome, today it is the perfect starting point to visit the Tuscia area (a historical region which now coincides with the province of Viterbo) and to plan trips to Tuscany and Umbria. In less than an hour by car you can get to the Argentario and Siena (in Tuscany), to Perugia (in Umbria) and, with only a-few-minute drive, you can get to the towns of Civita di Bagnoregio or Viterbo.
I recommend leaving the car here (in a parking lot) and starting walking around the city on foot. Here you can have an overview of all the parking lots in Bolsena.

If you are lucky enough to find a parking in the closest parking lot, the "Parcheggio Acquario", it is just a 5-minute walk to the Castle. Alternatively, if we consider the Via Francigena as the center of Bolsena (and the starting point to reach from wherever we parked the car), we just need to go up the ancient streets to get to the medieval quarter where the Castle stands out.
The ticket you gives you access to the Castle of Bolsena, also known as "Rocca Monadleschi della Cervara", where you can enjoy a lovely view from its walls
Tip: try to spot both the Etruscan and the Roman museums and the beautiful Lake Aquarium.
Check the opening hours on the Castle's official website.

The history of Santa Cristina is quite interesting. She lived in the IV century under Roman emperor Diocletian. Born and raised along the Lake of Bolsena, according to the legend she was the victim of her own father, an officer of the emperor, who martyred her for a long time. First he had her scourged, then locked up in prison. There she was visited and healed by three angels. She was then led to her final torture: tied a heavy stone to her neck and threw into the lake. But the stone the angels held the stone and floated the girl back to shore.
So, they locked her in a burning furnace, tore her skins apart, but she always healed her until they pierced two arrows into her chest. She died a martyr and a virgin, and was then sanctified. Every year on Corpus Domini day there is an infiorata (carpets made of flowers along the streets) and a reenactment to celebrate her.
The Eucharistic Miracle (Miracolo Eucaristico), on the other hand, dates back to 1263, when a priest from the city of Prague was on a pilgrimage to Rome. Doubtful of his faith, he went to the sanctuary of Santa Cristina and prayed to her to instill some of her faith and courage. While the priest was celebrating mass, the communion host began to bleed. The miracle was recognized as such by Pope Urban IV and now a memorial chapel can be visited with the very famous reliquary of Ugolino da Vieri.
The Catacombs of Santa Cristina From the small subterranean church inside the Basilica, you can access the Saint’s catacombs after buying the tickets. These catacombs, burial sites of the time, are essential because some well-made paintings were found here for which no explanation has yet been given.
Check the Basilica's opening hours here.

For your lunch break I recommend trying the lake fish because it is something that we do not usually have as it is a typical lake product... and a delicious one.
Il Toscano Restaurant offers excellent fish. Every dish, even the pasta, is handmade. My favorite one on the menu is the mixed appetizer based on whitefish.
Open Hours: Friday - Wednesday: 12:30-15:00, 19:00-22:00 Thursday: closed

The Lake of Bolsena is about 500 meters from the town center, so it is very easy to reach on foot too. For the purpose of this itinerary, it would be better to take the car.
On sunny days, you can walk along the entire lakefront, which takes about 2 hours. I suggest alternating the walks with some diving breaks because its waters are among the cleanest in Italy. While taking a bath, you can also enjoy the swans and ducks passing by. A truly wonderful sight.
The Lake of Bolsena is the largest volcanic lake in Europe, which is why the sand on its beaches is black.

From the port of Bolsena it is possible to go on a boat trip to the two lake islands: Isola Bisentina, commonly called Isola Grande.
At the following link you can find the contacts to book your own private tour, which I recommend as you can arrange according to the time and date that work best for you.

The departure takes place from the tourist port of Bolsena. Navigating on the lake for 9 km, you reach the splendid Bisentina Island, an ancient papal summer residence. Isola Bisentina is a private property, so it is not possible to visit. The boat will navigate it around a few meters away from the coast.
You will have the opportunity to admire the pristine beauty of the characteristic conformation and vegetation and the suggestive churches. You will also have an overview of Mount Bisenzio, place of the first human settlement on Lake Bolsena, and then continue to Martana Island. The captain will provide the guided tour him/herself. On summer tours, there's also the possibility to bathe in the lake.

The smaller island, Isola Martana, is located right in front of the town of Marta. It is said the Santa Cristina’s remains were brought here to prevent them being taken by the barbarians.
Isola Martana was also at the center of the tragic story of Amalasuintha, queen of the Ostrogoths, who succeeded his father Theoderic the Great: after being taken to the island against her will, she was murdered there by her cousin Theodato in 535. A commemorative plate was placed on the eastern part of the island.
The island in now uninhabited, but it housed an Augustinian convent in the past. It is currently a private property, so it is not possible to visit.

The boat trip ends at the Porto of Bolsena. Further information about boat trips and what to do on the Lungolago can be found here.

Another great alternative or additional activity to do on Lake Bolsena is to go sailing. The Yacht Club Bolsena "Zucchero & rataplan" is open from May to October. Here's all the activtities it offers: yoga, sailing, beach bar, boat rental, canoes, windsurfing, sup, but also just spending hours on the lawn enjoying the sun and taking a bath in the water of Lake Bolsena. Or go hiking on the "golfetti" of the lake until you reach the islands to be circumnavigated by sail or motor, and end with spectacular sunsets.
Further information can be found here.

Trattoria Dal Moro: this is a historical place, established in 1952. Open all year round, it offers a bar and an excellent restaurant. Trattoria Dal Moro offers very high-quality and well-cooked fish. I recommend tasting the appetizer: a real journey for the palate. Note that the restaurant is closed on Thursday in winter.

Sleep in Bolsena in a 16th-century historical Palace. In Bolsena I lived a truly unique experience, perhaps for the first time in my life. I spent the night in a real sixteenth-century noble palace: the “Vesconte Palazzo Cozza Caposavi”. The palace still belongs to its original family, the Cozza Caposavi, and its last major restoration dates back to 1700.
In other words, you can experience a real eighteenth-century atmosphere. A few years ago Palazzo Cozza Caposavi was turned into a hotel, but it has maintained its original structure: the halls, lounge, study or library are still the original ones. Everything has remained the same. The rooms and bathrooms have been made from some pre-existing bedrooms or premises of secondary use. Each bedroom is as well furnished with eighteenth-century pieces. Fabrics are from the 1700 too. Documents or paintings of the time are hanging on the walls all over the building. Everything has been taken care for in every detail.
You can choose to stay in the Stendhal's room, the one where the Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis wrote his own films, or the one where Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia from Star Wars, celebrated her birthday. I stayed in a very spacious attic room with a small terrace where I could practice yoga in the morning.
Over the centuries, many members of the Cozza Caposavi family were distinguished figures both in politics and within the Vatican. But, even more amazing, it is the illustrious guests that stayed at the palace over the years: Prince Carlo Ludovico di Borbone, writers Stendhal and Giovanni Verga, inventor Guglielmo Marconi, director Federico Fellini, two Popes and many others.
The building is of such importance to the city of Bolsena that it is protected by Italy’s Ministry of Culture, and it is possible to take guided tours to discover its historical and artistic heritage. No wonder, the Vesconte Palace was listed by Forbes as one of the 19 best hotels in the world and one of 2019 top five luxury hotels in Italy.
If the hotel is not available for the requested dates, a nearby alternative will be offered upon availability request.