Sirmione Overview

Isolated on a peninsula from the surrounding lakeside towns, tiny Sirmione (seer-mee-OH-neh; pop. 7000) retains some of the old-world charm that once moved the poet Catullus to praise the beauty of his home here. Among the town’s attractions are the healing powers of its spa waters, which have been renowned since ancient times. The centro storico is a pedestrian-only zone; nevertheless, the heavy tourist traffic gives Sirmione the feel of a bustling resort. Trendy boutiques, restaurants, and hotels line the sidewalks, sharing the space with traces of Sirmione’s Roman history and medieval architecture. Despite all of the class, Sirmione remains the beachiest of the lake towns, with scads of people soaking up sun or splashing in its aquamarine waters.

• Transportation and Practical Information

SAIA buses run from the station, V. Marconi 26, to all stops along the Brescia-Verona line, including Desenzano, the nearest train station. (Ticket office open M-Tu 9am-1pm and 2-6pm, W-Su 7am-1pm and ...more

• Accommodations and Restaurants

A thorough exploration of Sirmione takes only an afternoon, but those looking for prolonged relaxation can choose from among a number of fairly pricey hotels or slightly cheaper accommodations in Colombare ...more

• Sights and Activities

At the far end of the peninsula along V. Catullo is the Grotte di Catullo, perhaps the best-preserved and most impressive aristocratic Roman villa in northern Italy, spread over five acres of olive groves ...more

• Entertainment and Nightlife

Sirmione’s renowned thermal waters and mud baths at Terme di Sirmione, V. Punto Staffalo 1, are available only for those with prescriptions from a doctor. However, even the young and healthy can ...more