Sirmione
Sirmione is Lake Garda’s most famous town and for good reason. Exceptionally picturesque location on the tip of a long peninsula and beautiful historic buildings make Sirmione one of the area’s most sought after places of visit.
The symbol of Sirmione is the impressive medieval castle that surrounds the historic old town. Here you can walk for hours by looking at the narrow beautiful streets and the many specialty shops.
Sirmione’s stunning location has made the city a sought after resort for over 2,000 years, when wealthy Romans built villas along the beautiful peninsula. The ancient ruins of the Grotte di Catullo are said to be the ruins of the historical villa of the poet Catullus. Sirmione’s beautiful surroundings have inspired artists and poets like Catullo, Stendhal, Lawrence or Goethe throughout the ages, and the old town has housed many well-known figures throughout the centuries.
Sirmione surrounding area is famous for the production of DOC wine, refined extra-virgin olive oils and fragrant lemons.
Is Sirmione worth visiting?
Sirmione itself is a point of interest with the beautiful old town located on the peninsula surrounded by Lake Garda. Among the most popular sights in Sirmione are the medieval fortress and its associated old town. Inside the town you will also find Santa Maria Maggiore, a church from the 1400s.
But even more fascinating are probably the ancient ruins of the Roman holiday villa Grotte di Catullo at the very end of the peninsula.
Sirmione is also known for the hot springs and its therapeutic uses. Admittedly, they are not an attraction, but an experience most people who visit Sirmione want to be part of.
San Pietro Church in Mavinas is another popular attraction. The church was built in the early 800’s and rebuilt in 1320.
Sirmione Spa (Terme di Sirmione)
Sirmione is well-known for the hot springs, terme di sirmione, that originate in Lago di Garda. The spring water that flows into Lake Garda comes from depth and maintains a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius. This allows the lake to have a comfortable bathing temperature while never freezing in the winter. The hot springs have also been piped to transport the vital warm water to the mainland, where it is used for therapy and spa treatments.
The hot spring water contains minerals such as sulfur, iodine, sodium chloride and bromine and is used for spa treatments and therapy in the Terme Vigilio and Terme Catullo centers.
Sirmione also has three spa hotels with access to the hot spring water.
Sirmione Castle (Rocca Scaligera)
Due to Sirmione’s location on a peninsula, the city became an important point of defense. Sirmione Castle is a fortress surrounded by water. The fortress was part of the defense network of Verona.
Every day, thousands of tourists cross the windy bridge to explore Sirmione Castle and the old town it shelters. You can also climb the castle tower to enjoy wonderful and unique view of Sirmione and the beautiful Lake Garda.
The old town is built on the inside of the fortress and can be reached by walking across a bridge that crosses the canal. Cars are not allowed inside Rocca Scaligera with a few exceptions. Inside the charming old town you can enjoy quiet walks through the narrow streets surrounded by old and historic buildings. Here you will also find a good selection of inviting shops, cafes and restaurants.
Grottoes of Catullus (Grotte di Catullo)
At the very end of the peninsula you will find the Catullus cave, which is the remains of a villa dating back to around 150 AD. Since the poet Catullus died in the year 54 BC there is little evidence that Catullus had a holiday home in this building itself, but his family had a villa in the area. However, the tourist industry likes the history of Catullus and likes to associate the name with these Roman ruins.
At the Catullus villa you will find a museum that can be visited for a small entrance fee. In the museum you can see historical artifacts such as coins, jewelry and remains of frescoes and mosaics found at the villa as well as read more about the history of the Roman ruins.
To get to the Catullus Grottoes you can take a bicycle-driven taxi or enjoy a nice walk. A walk is highly recommended.