Sirmione

Sirmione sits on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Garda, in the province of Brescia. The medieval town, reached via a drawbridge, is dominated by the Rocca Scaligera, a 13th-century fortress built by the Della Scala family and surrounded by water on all sides. At the tip of the peninsula lie the Grotte di Catullo, the remains of an extensive Roman villa with open views across the lake and surrounding hills. The town is also known for its sulphurous thermal springs, used since antiquity and still active in several spa facilities today. The pedestrianised, cobbled lanes of the historic centre are lined with shops, restaurants and gelaterias, while designated bathing spots along the shoreline allow visitors to swim in the lake during summer. Local cuisine features freshwater fish from the lake, such as pike and Garda sardines, alongside olive oil produced in the surrounding region. Sirmione makes a convenient base for exploring other towns along Lake Garda, between Verona and Brescia, easily reached by car or boat.