Sirmione is one of the most striking lakeside towns in Italy. It stands on the tip of the narrow promontory Sirmio that seems to bisect the lower part of the Lake Garda. Surrounded by water, Sirmione is a delight to explore. In its historic centre there is an imposing medieval castle and ancient Roman ruins.

The Roman poet Catullus, who lived from 84 to 54 BC, had a villa at the far end of the peninsula. Its extensive ruins still puzzle historians, whose theories on its exact nature vary from a huge bath complex to an ancient version of a full-service resort.

One of Lake Garda's prettiest towns, Torri del Benaco lies along the lake. The town has a cute-as-a-button historic center, a picturesque harbor, and an imposing medieval castle with a centuries-old limonaia ( a covered citrus garden). In addition, Torri del Benaco offers some of the best lake views this side of Italy, cute pebbly beaches right next to its promenades, and countless hiking trails in the hills that keep guard over the town.