Lake Garda: Sirmione, Baldolino, Lazise, May 2025

By Beatrice Wong
June 20, 2025
7:30 pm
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From Bologna, I headed to Lake Garda to explore the small towns dotted around the lake while being based in the south at the beautiful town of Sirmione. Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy, known for its beautiful aquamarine color, where the ruling class used to have their villas. In particular, Sirmione, where I stayed, there are sulphurous springs and thermal baths. I stayed at the modern family-owned Aqva Boutique Hotel just outside the pedestrian old town. Lauded as the prettiest village of Lake Garda, Sirmione is built on the end of a long thin peninsula jutting out into the lake on the southern shore. It is one of the most visited towns and gets very crowded during the summer peak season. There is a castle at the entrance of the old town as well as Roman ruins on a promontory. The small village is made of a maze of narrow streets filled with shops and cafes which is nice to wander around in the late afternoon after the crowds of visitors have left.

Sirmione

At the entrance to the old town of Sirmione is Scaligero Castle, built near the end of the 12th century as part of a defensive network surrounding Verona. The castle, surrounded by water, guards the only bridge into the town. You can climb the 146 steps to the top of the tower to admire the beautiful views over the old town and its harbour.

Scaligero Castle, Sirmione

Scaligero Castle, Sirmione

Scaligero Castle, Sirmione

Scaligero Castle, Sirmione

Scaligero Castle, Sirmione

Scaligero Castle, Sirmione

Sirmione

Sirmione

One of the many gelato shops in Sirmione

Sirmione

Sirmione

Parrocchia di Santa Maria Maggiore

Parrocchia di Santa Maria Maggiore

Sirmione

Sirmione

Chiesa San Pietro is Sirmione’s oldest church dating from the 14th century. The church, set on top of a knoll and surrounded by cypress trees, has beautiful frescoes and a crumbling bell tower.

Chiesa San Pietro

Chiesa San Pietro

At the end of the Sirmione peninsula is the Grotto of Catullus which is neither a grotto nor did the poet Catullus ever live there. What remains is the ruins of a villa occupying 20,000 sq meters of land built around 150 AD, once a patrician villa for a rich Roman family. It is the largest domestic Roman villa in northern Italy and the remaining stone arches and walls, some three storeys high, create a picturesque sight. There is speculation that the complex was actually a bathhouse and not a villa after discovery of metal pipes which supplied it with the mineral rich warm waters.

Grotto of Catullus

Grotto of Catullus

Grotto of Catullus

Grotto of Catullus

Grotto of Catullus

Grotto of Catullus

About 30 minutes north from Sirmione along the eastern coast of Lake Garda is Bardolino, famous for producing the signature wine of the region. It is also known for its olive oil with an olive oil museum just outside of town. Surrounded by a city wall built by the della Scala family of Verona in the 12th century, Baldolino can be accessed through the gate of San Giovanni to the north and the gate of Verona to the south. The old town is built in a herringbone structure, typical of fishing villages, and filled with bars, restaurants, and small shops.

Bardolino

Bardolino

Bardolino

Bardolino

Bardolino

Bardolino

About 10 mins drive south of Bardolino is Lazise, surrounded by ancient 14th century walls and dominated by the Lazise Castle. Lazise immediately feels less busy than nearby Bardolino. The fortifications were made of stones and bricks and once upon a time, there were about 20 towers here. The castle is now privately owned but you can still take a walk on the walls. At the center of town is checkerboard paved Vittorio Emanuele Square with the town hall and the Zenone e Martino Church. At the old port is the old Venetian Customs House and the Romanesque church dedicated to St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. The lakefront promenade here connects Lazise to Cisano, Bardolino, and Garda.