Piazzale Orti Manara, 4 - Sirmione (BS)
Discovering the Grottoes of Catullus, finds with a lake view
“Sirmione, jewel of the peninsulas and islands”, wrote Catullus. Centuries later, the jewel is still there, even more shiny. Among the "musts" to visit in Sirmione, on the southern shore of Lake Garda, there is undoubtedly the monumental archaeological site of the Grotte di Catullo, which preserves a Roman villa from the 1st century BC, among the most important and best-preserved testimonies of the Roman period in northern Italy. On the lower floors of the villa, it is still possible to clearly admire loggias and columns overlooking the lake. The upper part, unfortunately less preserved, was instead used for daily life, with a section dedicated to the great passion of the Roman people: the Thermal Baths!
The extension of the villa is remarkable: an area of about two hectares embraced by a fragrant Mediterranean scrub and an ancient olive grove of over 1550 trees, from which a fine extra virgin olive oil is produced.
The position is also enviable: the architectural remains, in fact, rise on the rocky spur of the Sirmione peninsula, in a privileged position that embraces the whole lake from above. Thanks to its historical value and scenic beauty, the site is counted as one of the most beautiful and most visited Italian places in the country.
Why the name "Grotte di Catullo"? The name dates back to the fifteenth century, following the discovery of some poems by the Veronese poet, in which a return to the beloved location is told: "Sirmione [...] with what pleasure, with what joy I am going to see you again!". Although the villa that can still be admired today was presumably built after the death of Catullus, there is no doubt that the poet had a very strong connection with this splendid location. The title of “Grotte”, on the other hand, seems to have been attributed during the Middle Ages: after the collapse of some parts of the villa, natural caverns took shape, which were soon covered by wild vegetation and became very similar to real caves.
Over time, the villa and its surroundings have been destinations for famous travelers, including Andrea Palladio, who was interested in the remains of the structure especially from the point of view of construction techniques. A pilgrimage destination for architects and scholars for hundreds of years, in 1939 the first excavations were started by the Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage, until the acquisition of the whole area in 1948. Sixty years after the beginning of the first restorations, the Archaeological Museum as we know it today was inaugurated. Inside there are some artifacts found in the villa, restored frescoes and objects from churches and stilt houses submerged along the coasts of the Sirmione peninsula. With a little bit of imagination, it is not difficult to have an idea about how opulent life could be during the full splendor of the villa: thermal baths, magnificent paintings, lush nature and one of the most beautiful views in the world.
