Sirmione

Sirmione sits 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 is a rare example of a medieval harbour castle with its own fortified dock. You can walk along the walls and climb the keep. At the tip of the peninsula lie the so-called Grottoes of Catullus, the remains of a Roman villa measuring 167 by 105 m; a museum displays mosaics, bronzes and ceramics. The family of the poet Catullus owned a villa in Sirmione.

About 250 m off the eastern shore, the Boiola thermal spring wells up from the lake bed; it has been tapped since 1896 and feeds the town's spas. Walking through the lanes to the grottoes takes about an hour, and in summer a small electric train also runs. For a swim, head to Jamaica Beach, where large, smooth slabs of rock lie just below the surface.