The Scaliger Castle of Lazise is a medieval fortress built to defend the lakeside village. The first defenses date back to the 9th century and were reinforced by the Scaliger family in the 14th century. The castle consists of two enclosures with towers and defensive moats. The village still preserves much of its walls and three historic gates.
Villa Canossa was built in the 18th century by the noble Canossa family, one of the most influential in northern Italy. Surrounded by a large park overlooking the lake, the villa became an important cultural center and a gathering place for aristocrats and intellectuals of the time. Even today, it retains its historic charm and is a symbol of Venetian noble elegance.
Punta San Vigilio is a peninsula of great charm and historical interest. Owned by the noble Guarienti family of Brenzone since the 16th century, it houses a magnificent Renaissance villa designed by architect Michele Sanmicheli. Over the centuries, it has hosted illustrious guests, including Winston Churchill, the King of Naples, Tsar Alexander II of Russia, the poet Goethe, and Prince Charles of England.
Isola del Garda, the largest island on the lake, has an ancient history and has been inhabited since Roman times. In the 13th century, Saint Francis of Assisi founded a monastery there, which was later transformed into a noble residence. In the 19th century, it became the property of the Cavazza family, who built a splendid villa in the neo-Gothic Venetian style. Today, the island is open to visitors and features Italian-style gardens and medieval remains.
Rabbit Island was once called San Biagio Island due to the presence of an ancient oratory, and it owes its current name to the colony of rabbits that once inhabited it. Today, it is a popular tourist destination, known for its crystal-clear waters and the possibility of reaching it on foot at low tide.
The Grottoes of Catullus in Sirmione are the remains of a Roman villa from the 1st century AD, attributed to the family of the poet Catullus. The name “grottoes” comes from the Middle Ages, when the ruins were overgrown with vegetation and appeared like natural caves.
The Scaliger Castle of Sirmione was built in the 13th century by the Della Scala family as a defensive fortress on Lake Garda. Surrounded by water, it is one of the best-preserved castles in Italy and a rare example of a medieval port castle. Inside, the ancient docks used to house boats can still be seen. A curious detail is that access to the castle is only possible via drawbridges, making it one of the few castles in Italy completely surrounded by water.
