Sirmione

For Tim's birthday, we decided to head out and visit Sirmione, a town on the very southern end of Lago di Garda. Some friends had visited this town over the winter and strongly recommended we see it. We were not disappointed. We started by walking into the city (which is actually basically on an island, connected to the mainland by a single short and narrow bridge. Right at the entrance to the city is a castle (ostensibly for the old-fashioned defense of the city). So we started our tour there. We basically wandered in the castle and on its ramparts, with great views over Sirmione and across Lago di Garda to the mountains. Instead of the traditional exercise courtyard in the middle, this castle had an exercise boatyard. Very cool.

When we exited the castle, it was late morning. We wandered down to the lakeshore and had a snack while we watched some baby ducks. Then we wandered a good chunk of the town to look at a couple of churches before finding a very nice restaurant for a tasty (mostly seafood) lunch. After lunch we walked to the other end of the island (which sticks out into the lake). At this end, there are some ruins of an enormous ancient roman villa. We wandered among the rubble (it was very hot). It turns out that the price of admission to the ruins included entry into a very nice beach on a very accessible rock shelf. I had noticed the potential for beaches before we left, so luckily we were armed with swimsuits for the girls. They enjoyed frolicking in the water a bit before we headed back to the car (by way of a gelateria) and met the Piccos for dinner in Rovereto (partway home).