Sirmione on Lake Garda in Northern Italy
Sirmione is one of the lovely small towns on this lake in Northern Italy with a Scalieri Castle guarding the town. Lake Garda is a popular European tourist destination situated near the Dolomites and Italian Alps. The Scaliger Castle (13th century), including a rare example of medieval port fortification, which was used by the Scaliger fleet. Starting from the 1st century BCE, the area of the Garda became a favourite resort for rich families coming from Verona, then the main Roman city in north-eastern Italy. The poet Catullus praised the beauties of the city and spoke of a villa he had in the area. In the late Roman era the city became a fortified strongpoint defending the southern shore of the lake. A settlement existed also after the Lombard conquest of northern Italy. Ansa, wife of King Desiderius, founded a monastery and a church in the city. Around the year 1000 Sirmione was probably a free commune, but fell in the hands of the Scaliger in the early 13th century. Mastino I della Scala was probably the founder of the castle. The military role of the city continued until the 16th century, but a garrison remained in the castle until the 19th century. Sirmione was a possession of the Republic of Venice from 1405 until 1797, when it was acquired by the Habsburg Empire. It became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 186. The poet Gaius Valerius Catullus lived in the 1st century BC. His family owned a villa in Sirmione. Maria Callas had a villa in Sirmione
Size: 3341px × 5030px
Location: Sirmione on Lake Garda in Northern Italy
Photo credit: © Brenda Kean / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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