It is well known that Lake Garda is one of the most enchanting and magical places in Italy, but few know that the most fascinating and unique setting of this wonderful place is the Sirmione peninsula, located right at the tip of the lake.

Since ancient times, Lake Garda has been considered one of the best places to establish settlements and small villages. Anyone fortunate enough to live near the lake had direct access to water resources, food from the lake's depths, and, last but not least, the immense and unique scenic beauty.

Not by chance, right on the shores of Lake Garda, specifically at the tip of the Sirmione peninsula, a magnificent Roman Villa was built in the 1st century BC. Many attribute this villa to the poet Gaius Valerius Catullus, and today only ruins remain, testifying to the important history of this well-known location.

The Grottoes of Catullus, Let’s Get to Know Them

Today, only ruins remain of the ancient Roman villa thought to have been commissioned by the poet Catullus. However, these remains form a magnificent archaeological complex covering more than 20,000 square meters. It boasts a prestigious location on one of the most scenic points of Lake Garda and is one of the most significant Roman houses in Italy.

The ruins of this wonderful Roman villa are now known as the Grottoes of Catullus—a curious and unusual name for what was once a majestic and luxurious Roman villa.

This name was given because the ruins are almost completely buried and covered by thick vegetation, making them appear like caves.

After centuries of abandonment, the villa was rediscovered during the Renaissance when it became the subject of numerous studies by humanists who believed the villa belonged to the Latin poet Catullus, who affectionately mentioned Sirmione in his poetry due to his admiration for the place.

Over the centuries, many studies confirmed the villa's construction during the Augustan age. However, this historical period dates after the poet's death. Yet, beneath these ruins are structures dating back to Catullus' time.

This is how this archaeological wonder came to be known as the Grottoes of Catullus.

The Grottoes of Catullus, A Turbulent History

This magnificent Roman villa, built on the shores of one of Lake Garda's most picturesque spots—Sirmione—has a rather tumultuous and complex history.

As mentioned, it was constructed around the 1st century BC but was abandoned multiple times for unknown reasons. By the 3rd century AD, the villa was completely deserted, and many of its decorations were removed to adorn another villa in Sirmione: the Villa of Via Antiche Mura.

Jumping ahead to the 4th and 5th centuries, the villa, once a splendid Roman house in a privileged location, became a large cemetery. During this period, the villa's ruins were incorporated into fortifications to protect Sirmione from barbarian invasions and were later used as a burial site.

From then on, the villa's ruins were completely abandoned, swallowed by surrounding vegetation and left to deteriorate over centuries, eventually becoming eerie and mysterious caves.

Between 1500 and 1800, many scholars visited the Roman villa ruins, turning it into a gathering place for intellectuals and eccentrics. Finally, in the 1800s, Napoleon's commander La Combe St. Michel conducted in-depth studies, revealing that the villa once belonged to the poet Catullus.

In 1939, true archaeological excavations began, gradually uncovering the extraordinary beauty of this archaeological complex as we know it today. In 1948, it became part of the Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage.

All modern scholars agree that this villa was likely chosen by Catullus' father solely for one reason—the magnificent and unparalleled view of Lake Garda.