IT23 Visit to Sirmione

The students visit Sirmione, a comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy (northern Italy). It is a town on a narrow peninsula at the southern end of Lake Garda, in a scenic location that has attracted visitors since ancient Roman times. The peninsula is only about 100 metres wide and almost four kilometres long. Sirmione consists of three distinct parts: the fortress and moat at the entrance to the peninsula; the historic town behind the fortress; and the roman ruins of the Grotto of Catullus at the northern end of the peninsula. In particular, the students were able to discover:

- The fortress: the castle was built in Sirmione by the Scaligero family in the 13th century to defend the southern shores of Lake Garda. The castle stands at a strategic place at the entrance to the peninsula. It is surrounded by a moat and it can only be entered by two drawbridges. The castle was established mainly as a protection against enemies, but also against the locals. 

- The historic town: the students were able to walk through the medieval streets of the town centre and see the souvenir shops, ice cream shops and numerous restaurants.

- Grotto of Catullus: it is the most striking example of a Roman private edifice discovered in northern Italy. The Grotto of Catullus is an extraordinary architectural work, a very extensive villa with a succession of corridors and porticoes. This complex of roman ruins is very well preserved and a highlight of a visit to Sirmione. The ruins are very extensive and suggest a very large villa about the size of a small town and set in a beautiful landscape, with views across lake Garda as a backdrop.

The students acquired more historical and cultural knowledge about the history of Lombardy. They will be able to reinvest the vocabulary learned and the historical approach used.