Sirmione

Sirmione is a small town in Lombardy, Italy, on a narrow peninsula at the southern end of Lake Garda. Its landmark is the Rocca Scaligera, begun in 1277 under Mastino I della Scala; it stands at the narrowest point of the peninsula and is a rare example of a medieval harbour fortress with its own fortified harbour basin. You can walk along the walls and climb the main tower. About 250 m off the eastern shore, the Boiola thermal spring rises from the lake bed; it has been tapped since 1896 and feeds the town's thermal baths.

At the tip of the peninsula lie the so-called Grotte di Catullo, the remains of a Roman villa measuring 167 by 105 m; a museum displays mosaics, bronzes and pottery. Renaissance scholars linked the site to the poet Catullus, but most of the villa was built after his death; the oldest parts date from the 1st century BC. Centuries-old olive groves stand among the ruins.

From the castle it is a walk of about 15 minutes through the lanes to the grottoes, and in summer a small electric tourist train also runs. For a swim, try Jamaica Beach, where large, smooth slabs of rock lie just below the surface of the water. The town is busy in summer; opening times of the castle and the grottoes vary with the season, so check them beforehand (as of October 2026).