Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Over the centuries impossibly pretty Sirmione has drawn the likes of Catullus and Maria
Callas to its banks, and today millions of visitors follow in their footsteps for a glimpse of
Lake Garda's prettiest village and a dip in its only hot spring.
Sights & Activities
To get even the slightest glimpse of Sirmione's legendary natural beauty, come out of sea-
son (April or October) or in the evening when most day trippers have departed. Then you
can snap the fortified bulwark of the Rocca Scaligera without dozens of gelati-licking vis-
itors in the foreground and stroll around the 4km peninsula along the panoramic pathway.
The Grotte di Catullo stays open until 8pm and the spa is open until 10pm.
Rocca Scaligera
(Castello Scaligero; adult/reduced €4/2; 8.30am-7pm Tue-Sun)
Expanding their influence northwards,
the Scaligeri of Verona built this enormous square-cut castle right at the entrance to the is-
land. It guards the only footbridge into Sirmione, looming over it with impressive crenel-
lated turrets and towers. There's not a lot inside, but the climb to the top (146 steps to the
top of the tower) affords beautiful views over Sirmione's rooftops and the enclosed har-
bour.
CASTLE
Grotte di Catullo
( 030 91 61 57; adult/reduced €4/2; 8.30am-8pm Tue-Sat, 9.30am-6.30pm Sun Mar-Oct, 8.30am-2pm Tue-Sun
Nov-Mar)
Occupying 2 hectares at Sirmione's northern tip, this ruined, 1st-century AD Ro-
man villa is a picturesque complex of teetering stone arches and tumbledown walls, some
three storeys high. It's the largest domestic Roman villa in northern Italy and wandering
its terraced hillsides offers fantastic views.
Despite the name, there's no evidence Catullus lived here, although the poet did have a
home in the village. Significantly, the living quarters were on the top floor offering
360-degree views of the surrounding waters.
HISTORIC SITE
Aquaria
SPA
( 030 91 60 44;
www.termedisirmione.com
; Piazza Don Angelo Piatti; pools day/evening €33/27, treatments from
€25; pools 2-10pm Mon, 10am-10pm Tue-Sun Mar-Dec, hours vary Jan & Feb)
Sirmione is blessed with a
series of offshore thermal springs that pump out water at a natural 37°C. They were dis-
covered in the late 1800s and the town has been tapping into their healing properties ever
