Sirmione is a piece of false Italian sea.
There is no logical explanation to show why Sirmione, a town located in the southernmost part of Lago di Garda, It is the best option to start discovering this area of Italy that is so appreciated by German, Swiss and Austrian tourists every summer. Is it because of its location? Guarded at the foot of the Alps and a short distance from the border of these three countries. Because of its good weather? Or maybe it is its tasty gastronomy that hooks you?
Be that as it may, the truth is that, once you set foot on this piece of false Italian sea for the first time, you will want to savor it every year, either when the hot days are tight or in some of the out-of-season getaways that are so necessary to do. routine and day to day much more bearable.
In fact the best time to visit is outside the summer months, when the sun and beach tourists have decided to return to their place of origin and leave room for the rest. There the crowds, the long waits in the car and the exorbitant prices disappear and give way to calm and the true essence of the town.
Among all this picture of charming little towns, Sirmione has become in recent decades the jewel of the lake and, consequently, in one of the obligatory stops that have to be made yes or yes. Good for its proximity to Verona; for its great offer of leisure, rest and tourism; or because of the beauty that radiates from this wonderful place... Shall we discover it?
The historic center of Sirmione juts out into Lago di Garda.
A HISTORICAL CENTER THAT PENETRATES THE LAKE
Although the surroundings of the historic center of Sirmione are highly recommended due to the presence of the water surface that surrounds them, entering through the castle fortress – known as Rocca Scaligera (one of the best preserved fortifications in all of Italy) – which leads to the center of this Italian town is a marvel. Accompanied by a dock that invites the best of photographs, it is right in this place where the peninsula begins, approximately two and a half kilometers away, that goes into the lake, creating a perfect union between the mainland and the waters of Garda. .
And once you have crossed the bridge, what should you visit? As soon as you enter, on the left, you will find the Palazzo Maria Callas by the small port From where tourist and private boats depart quite frequently to discover the rest of Lago di Garda. The old Chiesa di Santa Maria della Neve or the Chiesa di San Pietro in Mavino with its Campana dei Caduti are two of the religious temples that are well worth a stop along the way.
Rocca Scaligera is one of the best preserved fortifications in all of Italy.
If you continue walking inland along the narrow streets full of cobblestones, you will reach the Parco Don Lino Zorzi, where the next stop is a few steps away. Aquaria Thermal Spa in one of the main places with natural hot springs from the area and thousands of tourists come there every year seeking an experience of maximum well-being, relaxation and rest. All this accompanied by views of the Garda in the background.
The best recommendation they can give you is to go at sunset. Just the moment the sun sets over the lake, in the most absolute calm and with the hot springs doing their job, you will find the real reason for your well-deserved vacation.
Heading north, along Via Caio Valero Catullo, suddenly appears on the right the famous hotel Villa Cortine (which we will talk about a few lines later) ; and to our left, a plaque installed at the top of the wall indicates that you are in front of the Villa de María Callas, the famous soprano who has become a great musical myth.
Sirmione was the place where the artist nicknamed 'The Divine' retired to rest her when she was still in a marriage with the businessman Giovanni Meneghini, before in 1959 she was surprised with Aristotle Onassis, the date on which her sentimental situation was broken. During the 1950s, María Callas, who was living her best professional stage at the time, found in this place the perfect retreat to rest and enjoy a few well-deserved days of peace and tranquility in what is known as the 'Pearl of the Garda' .
The Villa Cortine Palace hotel is located directly opposite the house of Maria Callas.
A MOVIE PLACE
Continuing along the winding Via Caio Valero Catullo, the Grottoes of Catullus (Grotte di Catullo in Italian) and Jamaica Beach are the two points located at the other end of the peninsula that you must visit. The former are a set of Roman ruins, built between the end of the 1st century BC. C. and the beginning of the 1st century AD. C, which currently make up one of the largest archaeological remains of villas in northern Italy.
If you have seen the movie Call Me By Your Name, this scene will be familiar to you because it is exactly the same place that Oliver, Elio and their father visit the day they take the excursion to Lago di Garda. And where do they go after to take a good dip? Indeed at the Spiaggia Giamaica (aka Jamaica Beach). This beach is located in the northernmost part of Sirmione and is the perfect place to swim, relax, have a refreshing beer, forget about the rest and admire the vastness of the waters of the lake that lie before you.
And don't forget to stay until sunset. Watching the sun set from here is priceless. Go up from the beach to the Jaimaca Bar, choose from the variety of beers and cocktails, and let yourself be carried away by the chill out music in the background and the ideal atmosphere for the occasion.
Sunset in Porto Galeazzi (Sirmione).
STAYING IN SIRMIONE
Impossible not to fall at the feet of the famous hotel Villa Cortine Palace, located just opposite the aforementioned house of Maria Callas. For those who have a somewhat tighter economy, this hotel will be a little candy that they will never be able to taste but admire, since its doors do not stop opening and closing as if they were faced with the most ephemeral of desires.
On the other hand, those who have the opportunity to spend one or several nights in what is known as the 'villa de las Colinas' should do so without thinking too much about it, since this 5 star palace It has been raising this town to its maximum splendor since 1953, the year in which it was inaugurated.
If, on the other hand, your pocket is smaller, you should know that there are most pleasant and hedonistic accommodations scattered around the area. You will only have to move a little away from the historic center of Sirmione to get the cheapest options, but not for that reason of lower quality.
Just ten minutes by car and 20 minutes by bike, Casa di Marla can become your quintessential stay during your vacation on the lake. Is about a guest house – run by Marzia– in the midst of nature (on a street where cars do not pass), which can boast of a careful decoration, an excellent breakfast, unbeatable service and rooms that will make you never want to leave.
Don't forget to borrow one of Marzia's bikes from the courtyard at the entrance to go to the center of Sirmione. Arriving by car is an odyssey that is not recommended due to traffic and high parking costs. In addition, you will enjoy a wonderful walk with views of the lake in the background.
The fish from the lake are the basis of the gastronomy of the area.
THE DELICIOUS CUISINE OF GARDA
How not... Talk about Italy and not mention its most typical dishes? Impossible! The gastronomy of lombardy It has nothing to envy to that of other central and southern regions, such as Lazio, Puglia, Umbria, Campania or Sicily.
You will come across crops of wheat, corn and vineyards at every step of your journey, and best of all, you will be able to taste them too. Among the meats, the Valtellina bresaloa and the game dishes accompanied by polenta stand out; the most famous cheeses in the region are grana padano, gorgonzola and mascarpone, essential as a seasoning or base for local dish recipes. As for rice and pasta, rissotto and torttelli di zucca (pumpkin) are the order of the day.
But if there is an ingredient that stands out above the rest and that only occurs in the vicinity of the lake, it is the great variety of fish that is extracted daily from the same waters of the Garda. And with them delicious pasta dishes are made or they are served cooked once they have passed through the grill, the frying pan or the oven. Tarpon, eel, carp, trout or pike are some of the freshwater fish that predominate in its waters.
Delicious pasta dishes at Trattoria Clementina.
And where to taste the best local gastronomy? Trattoria Clementina (Piazza Rovizzi, 13) offers a wide variety of antipasti, starters and main courses that meet the expectations of the most demanding palates. Our recommendation? The tagliatelle with sapore di lago and parpadelle with ragù di coniglio. They won't let you down!
Being Italy, pizza must be given the importance it deserves to a dish. If you want to try the tastiest of all the Garda you will have to go to the neighboring town of Desenzano del Garda to go to the Pizzeria San Benedetto (Via S. Benedetto, 151) , a temple that pizza lovers will never want to leave. Its dough, its ingredients and its flavor will make it one of the most relevant memories of the trip... Word! It is advisable to book if you go during the weekend, because you run the risk of running out of space. Don't be fooled by the remote location of this town, since the walk there will be well worth it.
You will not forget the taste of the pizzas at Pizzeria San Benedetto, in Desenzano del Garda.
THE REST OF THE LAKE
Once you have filled your stomach, it is time to discover the lake from start to finish, starting with Sirmione and ending with it. If the traffic allows it, in one day you can go around it by car and stop at the most charming towns. And what do you have to do in your passage through these?
- Discover the beauty of Malcesine.
- Admire the impressive views of Mount Bald.
- Stroll through the port, the beaches and the historic center of Descending from the Garda.
- Practice some water sport in Torbole.
- Go to Riva del Garda, the northernmost town on the lake and a favorite of German and Austrian tourists.
- Let yourself be conquered by the smell of lemons and the charm of Limone Sul Garda.
- Wander aimlessly through the old town of saló and fall in love with its villas, now converted into hotels or private residences, such as Villa Simonini or Villa Amadei.
Desenzano del Garda is also worth a visit.