Sirmione occupies a narrow peninsula that juts nearly four kilometres into the southern shore of Lake Garda, creating one of the most dramatic settings of any town on the lake. The entrance to the old town passes through the Scaliger Castle (Castello Scaligero), a rare example of a medieval lakeside fortification built by the della Scala family of Verona in the 13th century, complete with a fortified harbour that is one of the best-preserved of its kind in Italy. At the tip of the peninsula lie the Grotte di Catullo, the ruins of a vast Roman villa from the 1st century BC, traditionally associated with the poet Catullus who praised the beauty of this peninsula in his verses. Between these two landmarks, the old town is a maze of narrow lanes lined with shops, gelaterias, and restaurants. Sirmione is equally famous for its thermal waters: sulphurous springs emerge from the lake bed at a temperature of 69 degrees Celsius, and two modern spa complexes (Terme di Sirmione and Aquaria) offer therapeutic treatments and thermal pools with views across the lake. Jamaica Beach, a stretch of flat rocks on the western side of the peninsula, is a popular spot for sunbathing and swimming in the clear lake water.
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