Visit Sirmione
Sirmione is situated on a narrow peninsula at the southern end of Lake Garda.
It is in a very picturesque setting but has not benefitted from the large amount of tourist development now found around Sirmione. A visit is still recommended however, and it has attracted visitors for more than 2000 years so a bit of development is inevitable...!
Follow across the bridge to reach the town of Sirmione and to the Catullo Caves (Grotte di Catullo), the highlight of a visit made famous by a connection with the Latin poet Catullus (Verona, 84 B.C.- Sirmione, 55 B.C.)
The villa in Sermione is an extraordinary architectural work, with a succession of corridors and porticoes, dug deep in the rock and dating back to the first century BC. and ruins to explore set in the beautiful landscape, along with a museum containing more interesting Roman artefacts. Note: it seems that the villa actually predates Catallus by at least a century so the connection is rather tenuous (not unlike Bergerac in France claiming a link with Cyrano de Bergerac...) althought Catallus did at least live here for a while.
There is more to Sirmione than the Catullo Caves and the villa, with numerous Roman and medieval sites of interest, including an ancient Benedictine convent built for Ansa, the wife of King Desire; and also the Church of "San Pietro in Mavino" (14th century).
The picture-postcard turreted 13th century castle within the town was built by the Scaligero family in the 13th century to defend the southern shores of Lake Garda.
Bathers and sun-seekers should head for the lido at Spiaggia Lido delle Bionde for a chance to swim in the lake.