The origin of the fagiolina of Trasimeno Lake (scientific name: Vigna unguicolata) - since not belonging of the Fasoleum family (American beans) - are to be found in remote Africa. Actually, fagiolina arrived in Umbria thanks to Mediterranean people.

Teofrasto, the favourite pupil of Aristotle, reports that the species was grown in Greece in 300 B.C. and were probably the Greek people to spread it in the other Mediterranean countries.

In the first century A.C., Pliny the Elder lets us know that fagiolina was grown first by the Etruscans and then by the Romans.

Until 1950's, fagiolina was grown by all the families in the area of Trasimeno Lake.

This production has then been replaced by the much more productive beans of American origin.