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The Lake of Bolsena, famous for its landscape, historical and architectonic value, does indeed represent a well preserved example of lacustrine eco-system. It is an ambit in which the various human activities (such as agriculture, fishing, tourism) have harmonically developed accordingly to sustainability. As per the European Directive Habitat (92/43), the Lake of Bolsena, the Vulsini Mountains, the Martana and Bisentina Islands and the High and Medium Course of the Marta River are classified as Sites of (European) Community Importance (Siti di Importanza Comunitaria - SIC).

The Lake of Bolsena has been moreover designated Special Protection Zone (ZPS) as per the European Directive 79/409 (Birds Directive) being an important area for nidification and wintering of different species of birds having a certain naturalistic relevance. The lake has, therefore, come into the European Network called “Nature 2000”, including all those areas aiming to the conservation of habitats, animal and vegetal species being highly interesting at a European level.
Towards those sites, Italy, as a country, has taken a commitment to preserving the integrity of the habitats and species for which the sites themselves have been designated. The Legislative Decree 152/99, whilst stating as ‘good’ the quality level of the Lake of Bolsena, allows to classify it as a ‘vulnerable and sensitive area’ on the basis considering it is a ‘slow exchange’ type of lake.
Intensive agriculture and fishing are major activities in the municipalities washed by the lake of Bolsena.

Some History...

Hosted in the biggest volcanic cone in Europe, since ancient times the Lake of Bolsena exercised a particular actractive role for the communities living in the surrounding hills, who, at different times in various ages, moved from their villages to the lake banks, starting to cultivate those fertile lands and to develop fishing techniques and equipments. In the iron age (IX – VIII century b. C.) the Villanoviani, the Etruscan direct forefathers, founded two inhabited areas close to the lake: Bisenzio, built on top of a rocky height stretching out vertically on the lake water and, on the opposite versant the “Gran Carro”, right in the middle of a vast plain completely submerged in the following times. In the Etruscan age, the basin of the Lake of Bolsena has been a border line between two of the major towns of Etruria, Vulci e Volsinii. About 600.000 years ago three volcanic apparatus began its activity: the Vulsinio, from which the Lake of Bolsena originated, the Vicano, from which the Lake of Vico originated, and the Cimino.

The Vulsinio apparatus covered the piece of land from the Paglia and Tevere rivers to the Tirrenic Sea with volcanic deposits. It comprehends three volcanic complex which developed in the following ages: Bolsena, Montefiascone and Latera. The volcanic activity of Vulsinio have had an essentially explosive character, as testified by the scarce quantity of lava compared to tuffs. These latter are, actually, the very majority of the volcanic rocks of the area. The heights overhanging the lake, representing the highest quotes of the whole volcanic district, swing from 500 to 600 meters from the sea level, culminating at Poggio Torrone, north of Bolsena, 690 meters high.

The volcanic activity ended up with the formation of the Islands Bisentina and Martana, emerged after the underwater eruptions. Many are the volcanic cones visible from the heights surrounding the lake: Montefiascone, Capodimonte, Monte Bisenzio, Poggio Falchetto, Valentano and many other more. The Islands Bisentina and Martana have now a semi-circular shape following to the collapse of part of the volcanic cones which constitute themselves. It is an immense cultural heritage, perfectly integrated into the natural one: the so-called “tuff culture”.