San Savino
WELCOME TO SAN SAVINO
Hi everyone! Today I'll talk about San Savino, a small hamlet in the municipality of Magione, in the province of Perugia, overlooking the eastern shores of the beautiful Trasimeno Lake. The village has about 600 inhabitants and is rich in history and charm. Let's discover more together!
THE HISTORY OF SAN SAVINO
San Savino has a long history behind it, which makes it unique and fascinating. The first document referring to the existence of the small village dates back to 1006, when a monastery was founded on the top of the semi-deserted hill by the noble Attoni family from Todi. The San Savino fortress, with a square base, was built to protect the convent and its monks, by the same Count Attone. The continuous wars and the passing of armies that bloodied the Perugian territory until the end of the 13th century forced the capital city to increase the defenses and to rebuild the fortified walls of the village. The elevated position of the castle, dominating the entire southeastern slope of the Trasimeno Lake, made it an important military and strategic control point for the area.
THE EXERCISE OF POWER
San Savino represented a strategic point for the economy of the area, thanks to fishing in the Trasimeno Lake, which was managed by the papal authorities. Pope Paul V, in 1566, ordered the construction of a port for the inhabitants of the hamlet, which was situated at the foot of the hill. Today, the marina, located near the natural oasis, is the place where the processing of reed takes place.
LIFE IN THE MEDIEVAL VILLAGE
Life within the walls of the village, during the medieval period, was very interesting and lively. However, the continuous wars that bloodied the Perugian territory reduced the population almost exclusively to the monks of the monastery. For this reason, the Perugian municipal authorities issued a series of organic measures to guarantee the possession of houses and the enjoyment of particular benefits to the inhabitants of the nearby areas of Pian di Carpine and Montecolognola who wanted to move to the San Savino castle. The result of this political operation was rather disappointing: the Magionesi did not move. It was instead the inhabitants of Anguillara and the nearby lake locations who rebuilt the houses within the castle walls and began a first building expansion even outside the walls.
CURIOUS FACTS
San Savino is a place that inspires many curiosities. Worth mentioning is the ancient well located in the heart of the village, with a depth of over 30 meters, which was the main source of water supply for the inhabitants in medieval times. I also recommend a walk along the main street of the village, which offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding hills and the part of the Trasimeno Lake that opens to the east.
CONCLUSION
San Savino is a place that definitely deserves a visit. Its position, medieval atmosphere and history that can be felt everywhere, make it a charming place. Walking along the streets of the village, you can admire the signs of the history of past centuries, between cellars and defensive towers. I recommend coming here to discover this hidden gem in the heart of Umbria.
