The translated text by Yovanna Ramos

Panoramic route between spa towns and stately villages

In the north of Italy, just where the plains look to the Alps,  the Lakes Region extends where natural scenery, historical heritage and artistic wealth can all be found. Close to must-visit cities such as Milan, Verona and Trento, and the crystal clear body of water that is the Garda Lake draws the viewer’s eye and tricks travelers into believing that it is a calm sea on the south shore, while in the north it is more reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord. Furthermore, a mild microclimate converts the surrounding area of Italy’s largest lake( 370 km2) into an idyllic garden area where they grow crops like grapes, lemon , palm and laurel. Unsurprisingly, from Roman times to the nineteenth century, the aristocracy has built villas on the edge of the Lombard Lagoon, whose banks also belong to the regions of Trentino and Veneto. The spa resort town of Sirmione, located at the southern end of the lake, is the starting point for this tour of the 150 kilometers of the Gardesana, the winding road bordering the lake that gives breath-taking views; another option, although slower, is to travel by ships that connect many towns.  
Just eleven kilometers from Sirmione lies Desenzano there are only eleven kilometers, the the capital of the lake and its most populous city . There is recommended to walk the streets of the historic center and visit the church of Santa Maria Maddalena ( XVI century) , where you can gaze upon “The Last Supper” by Tiepolo.

Sirmione sits on a peninsula which culminates in the Rocca Scaligera castle (XIII century), surrounded by ramparts. The beaches are another one of the place’s attractions, as well as the Caves of Catullus, where the remains of a Roman villa can be seen, in which it is believed that the poet lived in the first century BC and from whence the cave gets its name; stays, hot springs, patios and the privileged position of the lake are protected.