Tom`s travels: Sirmione (18/01/2015)

I left Vicenza early in the morning with my family, to head on this sunday trip to Sirmione, a beautiful town in Lombardy on the shores of Lake Garda. The town sits on a peninsula jutting out towards the middle of the lake, as it is know not only for its nice historical center but also for its thermal waters. So after having parked the car right outside town, we headed towards the city center. The first sight one sees entering the town is the beautiful medieval castle, sitting on a small island and surrounded by crystal clear waters. The castle built by the Scaligeri family, rulers of Verona, in the 13th century, is one the best preserved and prettiest in Italy; it also holds a walled dock that used to contain the war ships. After visiting the castle and the small museum inside, 2 euros reduced ticket, we got out and briefly checked out the main square right in front: Piazza Castello with a nice medieval fountain and houses all around. We then walked though the small town passing by some nice streets and got to the northernmost point of the Peninsula where the Grottoes of Catullus, an immense roman villa, the largest in Northern Italy, was excavated and attributed to Catullus the famous roman poet. As most roman sites, it is mostly in ruins and only the lower parts of the building remain, but being covered all around by olive groves and surrounded by the lake and mountains it makes an incredible site to see. After seeing the amazing villa, entrance was 3 euros reduced price, we headed back towards the town and stop at a lonely church, San Pietro in Mavino, built around the 14th century on the highest point of the peninsula it holds several interesting medieval frescoes. Once we reached the town center we were hungry so we decided to look for a restaurant. After lunch we saw the main church Santa Maria Maggiore, and took a stroll along the shore, even though the water looked so nice and inviting it was unfortunately still January so definitely not the time for a swim. Before heading back to the car we ate ice cream and stopped at the small church of Sant Anna, then reaching the car and ending the trip.