At the end of the peninsula of Sirmione, in an exceptional panoramic position, there are the remains of one of the largest Roman villas in northern Italy. Since the Renaissance the structures have been called “Grotte di Catullo” to indicate the collapsed rooms, covered by vegetation, within which you could enter as natural cavities.
The reference to Catullus comes from the verses of the Latin poet of Veronese origin, who died in 54 BC, who sings Sirmione, a jewel among all the islands and peninsulas of the seas and lakes.
The olive grove that surrounds the archaeological remains consists of about 1500 plants belonging to the traditional varieties cultivated on Lake Garda (Casaliva, Gargnà, Leccino), including some secular specimens. The oldest, whose age has been estimated at 400-500 years, may have been silent witnesses of the visit in March 1514 to the remains of the villa by Isabella d’Este, wife of the Marquis of Mantua Francesco Gonzaga and who wanted to gather around him some of the main Renaissance artists and writers.
Thanks to the care given in recent years, the olive grove has returned to produce olives from which is extracted extra virgin olive oil of great quality.
