Sirmione, the Scaligera Fortress

Sirmione is a well-known and very popular resort on Lake Garda, located on a narrow strip of land that stretches in the lake for 4 kilometers.

To visit it, you should leave your car on one of the many parking lots (also because the historic center is a pedestrian island) and follow the lakeside promenade for reach the Rocca Scagliera, which watches at the entrance of the village. The fortress, erected in the thirteenth century, is a very impressive structure, with more towers and the double crenellated belt. It is a notice of what awaits you inside the village, which you can access after crossing a small drawbridge under a large arch.

The old town isn't very big, so just wander around the narrow and picturesque alleys that have preserved their medieval look. If you feel tired you can stop for a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants, bars, trattorias and ice cream parlors, scattered among the alleys, streets and squares. After that you can resume your walk and visit the tiny Church of S. Anna, located next to the Castle and the Caves of Catullus, which with the famous poet have nothing to do with the famous poet . In reality these are the remains of a Roman villa that belonged to a Roman consul. The visit to the Caves is also very nice for those who are not really fond of archaeology, in fact the area of excavations offers the wonderful view of the lake.

Sirmione is interesting above all for another aspect: the spas, where inhalation treatments, massages, mud and balneotherapy are carried out and all this your body needs to relax. You can buy the simple ticket for a single day or one of the complete packages.

So if you decide to spend your holidays at Lake Garda you can't help but come to Sirmione. It could become your base, as it is an excellent starting point for all excursions in the area: from Lake Garda to the rich hinterland with not far away cities d & rsquo; art such as Verona, Venice, Mantua and Brescia.