Sweet Sirmione, the peninsula of poets

A place of timeless charm: welcome to Sirmione!

Built on a thin peninsula stretching 4 km into the heart of Lake Garda, the name Sirmione comes from the word syrma, meaning “tail.”

A landscape of extraordinary beauty that has inspired and fascinated numerous artists throughout history, to the extent that it has earned the nickname the poets’ peninsula. To name but a few, we recall the great Latin poet Catullus who spoke of “Venusta Sirmio,” Giosuè Carducci in the barbarian ode, Ezra Pound, a young American poet of the 20th century who, among other things, met his friend James Joyce in Sirmione in “The Study in Aesthetics,” and others.

The Castle of Sirmione and the Caves of Catullus

Visitors enter the medieval historic center of Sirmione across the drawbridge in the walls of Castello Scaligero, built in the 1200s. The towers and crenellated walls simply cannot be missed for the views over the entire lake and the surrounding hillside. Next to the castle is the perfectly preserved dockyard.

Past the castle, visitors find themselves in picturesque little streets full of stores, typical restaurants and beautiful homes, a place that once captured the heart ofMaria Callas, who lived here for a long time.

At the far end of the Sirmione peninsula, overlooking the lake and the beach of large white stones below, there are the remains of the Roman villa, known as the Grotte di Catullo and dating back to the Augustan era (late 1st century B.C.-early 1st century A.D.).

The “Caves of Catullus” are among the most fascinating archaeological examples of Roman times in the whole of northern Italy, complemented by the museum that houses a collection of ancient artifacts found on the peninsula of Sirmione.

Along the climb to the Grotte di Catullo, it is worth visiting the church of San Pietro in Mavino, probably built by local fishermen in the 1700s.

Tourist accommodation and activities

One of the most important tourist locations on Lake Garda, Sirmione has a remarkable network of high quality hotels capable of satisfying the needs of the most demanding customers.

Visitors to Sirmione can enjoy all the activities that the area offers: from the Terme di Sirmione – SPA & Thermal Garden, whose powers of healing have been known since ancient times, to the beauty of the natural parks of Monte Baldo and Alto Garda Bresciano, the famous Gardaland theme park and Aquapark Canevaworld, and the renowned local food and wine.

Find out more on the Official Sirmione tourist site.