What to do · Lake Garda
Grotte di Catullo, Sirmione's Roman villa
Information
- From
- €10 adult
- Duration
- 2 h
- Season
- All year; closed on Mondays
- Who it's for
- All ages; under-18s free
What it is
At the northern tip of the Sirmione peninsula, where the lake surrounds the land on three sides, are the remains of a great Roman villa of the 1st century. It is called the Grotte di Catullo, the Caves of Catullus, after the Latin poet linked to Sirmione, although the villa was built after his death. The arches and walls still standing held up the terraces of an enormous house, in an enclosure of about two hectares; half-buried, they looked like caves, and the name stuck.
Today you visit an archaeological park among centuries-old olive trees, with viewpoints over the water, and a museum at the entrance with frescoes, mosaics and objects found in the excavations.
Hours and prices
In high season, from April to October, it is open from 8:30 to 19:30, with the museum until 19:00; in winter it closes around 17:00. It is closed on Mondays. Hours change with the dates: check the Ministry of Culture website or call the ticket office, +39 030 916157, before going.
Admission costs €10. European Union citizens aged 18 to 25 pay €2, and under-18s do not pay. On the first Sunday of each month admission is free for everyone. There is a combined ticket with Sirmione's Scaligero castle and the Roman Villa of Desenzano; sources do not agree on its price, so ask at the ticket office.
Getting there and parking
The centre of Sirmione is a limited-traffic zone: leave the car outside. The most convenient car park for the visit is Piazzale Campiello, in Colombare, with a shuttle to the castle; Monte Baldo car park, closer to the centre, is dearer and fills up before mid-morning. From the castle to the Grotte it is about 15 or 20 minutes' walk through the village and the street of hotels. In summer a little electric train runs up from the thermal baths area to the entrance.
How long
Allow an hour and a half for the park and museum, plus the walk there and back from the castle. The route is almost all outdoors, with steps and dirt paths: with a pushchair you can do it, but not all of it.
Tips
- Go first thing At 8:30 there is almost nobody, and the sun is not yet fierce among the ruins.
- Go down to Jamaica beach From the olive grove you can see the beach of rock slabs at the foot of the villa; you reach it from the village for a swim.
- Combine it with the boat Sirmione has a landing stage: arrive or continue by boat to Desenzano and save on parking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Grotte di Catullo?
€10. Ages 18 to 25 (EU), €2. Under-18s, free, and free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month.
Which day does it close?
Mondays.
Can I drive to the entrance?
No. Sirmione's centre is a limited-traffic zone: park outside and continue on foot or on the shuttle.
Was it Catullus's house?
No. It bears his name by tradition, but the villa postdates the poet.
As a family
