A short drive up the Niccone river valley leads to a curvy pass with a view of Lake Trasimeno below. This is an area rich in history. The location of the Battle of Lake Trasimene, the Roman Defeat by Hannibal in 217 bc, nearby town names still recall the grisly battle where over 15,000 Romans were killed in an afternoon ("Ossia" means "bones" and "Sanguanito" translates to "bloody").
From Passignano its fun to take the boat ferry to Isla Maggiore (or "Fennel Island" as we affectionatly call it). During the high season, the boat leaves every half hour. Take a short hike around Fennel Island and you'll see why its earned its nickname.
There are some lovely historic buildings and its particularly peaceful without any motorized vehicles. You can see the entire island in a half hour, just in time for the boat to pick you up again and return you to Passignano. We do not recommend dining on the island as their speciality is mackeral from the lake and not the tastiest local delecacy. Better to lunch in Cortona, just a half hour away.