Visiting Sirmione on Lake Garda

Sirmione, a short ferry ride across Lake Garda from Desenzano del Garda, is located on a peninsula that divides the lower part of Lake Garda.  The first traces of human presence in the area date from the 6th-5th millennia BC and, starting in the 1st century BC, the area was a favorite resort for rich families from Verona.  In the late Roma era (4th-5th centuries AD), Sirmione became a fortified strongpoint defending the southern shore of the lake.  Sirmione was part of the Venetian Republic from 1405 to 1797, when it was acquired by the Habsburg Empire and later became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.

Sirmione is one of the most popular locations on Lake Garda, with thousands of visitors flooding in every day for the sights, resorts, thermal baths, castle, and history.  We approach on the ferry, enter the town, and wander.

Ferry arriving to pick us up

Crossing Lake Garda and approaching Sirmione

Walking into the city

A short distance into Sirmione, we reach Scaligero Castle, a medieval port fortification used by the Scaliger fleet in the 13th century.  The castle stands on a strategic location at the entrance to the peninsula and and can be accessed by two drawbridges over its moat.  And, oddly enough, an inflatable pink crocodile lives in the moat.

Scaligero Castle

Next to the castle, the beautiful small church of Sant'Anna della Rocca dates from the 12th century, used mainly by the garrison and local villagers.

Sant'Anna della Rocca

We return from the castle and reenter the town, walking along the the lake to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore (late 15th century) in the town center.

Walking along the lakeshore

Popping into Santa Maria Maggiore

We continue around the lake, approaching the top of the peninsula and then cut through a park to head back into town looking for lunch.

Continuing along the lake

Cutting through a park

Returning to town

We wander into a small restaurant and dine on tomato bruschetta, margharita pizza, and seafood salad.

Lunch

As we leave on the ferry returning to Desenzano del Garda, we look back at Sirmione and the beautiful lake-side villas, restaurants, resorts, and lake/beach activities.  The center of town is crowded, but a short distance from the center, there are quiet paths, parks, and beaches away from the main tourist attractions.

Leaving on the ferry

Arriving in and Wandering Around Desenzano del Garda

Leaving Monterosso al Mare in Cinque Terre, we change trains in Milan and continue on to Lago di Garda (Lake Garda), about 150 km (65 miles) east of Milan.  Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and is a popular vacation spot, located between Brescia and Milan on the west and Verona and Venice to the east.  The lake touches the Italian Alps, with the northern end located in a depression that intrudes into the Alps, while the southern portion is in a valley that runs from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, formed by stream erosion from a glacier 5 to 6 million years ago.

We stay in the town of Desenzano del Garda, just across the lake from the peninsula dividing the lower part of the lake, the location of Sirmione, one of the most popular locations on Lake Garda.  Sirmione welcomes thousands of visitors every day to view the picturesque peninsula and its lakeside resorts, thermal baths, fortress, and history.

We arrive in Desenzano and wander through the town.

View of Lake Garda

Sirmione across the water

Ferry routes around the lake

Walking the streets of the city

Exploring the piazzas

Desenzano has a main harbor near the center of town, with a busy ferry terminal transporting people all around the lake and moorings for many private pleasure boats.

Harbor area

The promenade along the water, Lungolago di Desenzano, provides a picturesque walk past the beaches on one side and many piazzas on the other.

Along the lungolago, with the lake on one side

And the city on the other

We walk a few blocks into the town and visit Castello di Desenzano del Garda, overlooking the town and located on a site of a Roman fort built to repel barbarian invasions.  The castle was rebuilt and reinforced in the fifteenth century, when it contained 120 houses and a church.  Only the walls remain now, with four towers, the tower entrance, and a drawbridge.  We enter and climb one of the towers for spectacular views of Lake Garda.

View of the castle from the longolago

In the stairway to the top of the tower, an audio-visual display on the rock walls narrates the history and purpose of the castle.

Story of the castle

At the top of the tower, we get spectacular views of the city and the lake.

Views from the castle

Returning to the lungolago along the water, we enjoy sunset across the lake.

Sunset in Desenzano

In the morning we find a farmers market along the water and stroll, enjoying the sights of local farm produce and products.

Local market along the harbor

It's been fun poking around Desenzano, but it's time to hop on a ferry and cross the lake.