Magione is a quiet Umbrian town on the eastern shore of Lake Trasimeno, about 20 kilometres west of Perugia. It is not a major destination, but it earns its place on the map: the lakeside setting is lovely, and the town has genuine medieval bones.
The name comes directly from its most interesting building — the Castello dei Cavalieri di Malta, locally called the Magione, which means "mansion" or "lodge" in medieval Italian. First documented in 1075, the structure started life as a Benedictine abbey and was later taken over by the Knights Hospitaller. What stands today is a compact fortress with a square plan, circular corner towers, and an interior courtyard lined on three sides with stacked loggias. It is one of the better-preserved Hospitaller buildings in central Italy, and worth seeking out.
The town also has a parish church and the church of the Madonna delle Grazie, dated to 1209. Neither is exceptional, but both are worth a quick look if you are already here.
The best short excursion from Magione is to Montecolognola, a medieval hilltop village a few kilometres away with a small castle and views across Lake Trasimeno and Monte Melino. On a clear day the panorama is genuinely good.
Magione is primarily useful as a base for exploring Lake Trasimeno — the lake itself offers beaches, boat trips to the islands (Isola Maggiore has a small fishing community and a lace-making tradition), and a cycle path that circles most of the shore. If you are travelling by car through Umbria and want somewhere unhurried near the lake, Magione is a sensible stop.