This Colorful Italian Town Is A Little-Known Historic Getaway Frozen In Time

Anyone who's even halfway familiar with Italian geography has probably heard of the nation's most infamous cities, with towns like Milan, Florence, and Rome taking the top spots as Italy's leading destinations. Rome and Florence cater to the world's most enthusiastic history buffs, while Lake Como awaits lakeside dreamers with crystal-clear waters and lush vegetative cliffs. Yet, few tourists know that these regions have a serious contender in Italy's northern Lombardy region that can compete with their photogenic backdrops, architectural wonders, and sandy coastal beaches. The town of Sirmione, tucked in the province of Brescia, is only 30 minutes from Verona. However, its underrated status means it's often overshadowed by the iconic setting of "Romeo and Juliet."

It isn't hard to see what makes the town of Sirmione such an attractive village after glimpsing the colorful storefronts and flower-trimmed abodes that line the southern edge of Lake Garda — the centerpiece of Sirmione. According to an opinion piece in The Sunday Times, Lake Garda easily outshines every other body of fresh water in Italy, giving Sirmione a competitive edge over some of Italy's more popular regions. Tangerine trees skirt the borders of the shoreline, while groups of swans and ducks gently skim the surface of the water. Colorful bars, vibrant cafés, and local artisan shops await visitors inside Piazza Giosue Carducci — the historical heart of Sirmione. Whether marking Sirmione as a quick day trip or as your home base for a week, it's the perfect Italian town for a more laid-back coastal vacation.

Bordered by water on all three sides, Sirmione's most obvious attraction is Lake Garda, which draws visitors to its sun-soaked beaches and warm waters. This enormous reservoir is the largest of Italy's lakes (by area) and more than double the size of Lake Como. It isarguably one of Italy's most beautiful lakes. The surface of this sparkling freshwater pool is alive with swans and ducks, and its borders are fringed with pine and olive trees, creating a stunning scenery for a midday soak. Visitors are welcome to cruise around the edge of town by boat, with boating excursions a popular activity in this underrated Italian destination. 

Rising out of the distance is the magnificent Castello Scaligero — a 14th-century medieval castle commissioned by the Della Scala family, who once governed the city of Verona. Castello Scaligero underwent structural renovations after WWI, taking decades to complete.

The drawbridge of this fairytale-like structure is the only way to enter the walls of Sirmione, linking the outskirts of the village to Piazza Giosue Carducci. There's no shortage of seaside restaurants and archaeological remnants tucked inside the walls of this city. After a long day pursuing the cobblestone streets, sit down to a glass of wine and a seafood-rich dinner at La Speranzina. This lakefront restaurant might just be the best place in Sirmione to twirl your fork in homemade pasta and cut into freshly caught seafood plates. This Michelin-star restaurant overlooks the waters of Lake Garda, creating a five-star dining experience.

Given its small size and narrow cobblestone streets designed for flaneuring around town, Sirmione is a popular day trip destination. Like most parts of Italy, the off-season is the best time to visit this picturesque town. A visit in spring promises the best chance of a crowd-free, warm-weather vacation. This region enjoys a gorgeous spring season, with a warm microclimate and average daily temperatures hovering in the 60s. 

When it comes to reaching the sun-soaked shores of the Sirmione peninsula, traveling by rail is the easiest way to visit. With the ease of high-speed trains traversing the coastline and central provinces of Italy, it's a quick 20-minute trip from the nearby town of Verona to Sirmione. Even cities located further away, like Milan and Venice, are only an hour and a half trip away, making Sirmione the perfect day-tripping destination.

Desenzano and Peschiera del Garda are the two closest train stops to Sirmione. From there, you can take a quick ride on a bus or taxi to get you to Sirmione proper. While it may be intuitive to think that having the convenience of your own personal car will make things easier, Sirmione has been marked as a car-free village in Italy, giving pedestrians the advantage when maneuvering its flat, narrow streets. As a highly walkable city, visitors have the leisure of nearly all the essentials within walking distance.