From Verona: Sirmione & Lake Garda Day Tour with Cruise

Depart from central Verona and drive west along the Garda Moraine hills, passing vineyards producing Bardolino and Lugana wines. Your guide provides an introduction to the Scaligero dynasty that ruled this region from Verona in the 13th and 14th centuries, building fortresses across Lake Garda to control trade routes.

Enter the Scaligero Castle of Sirmione via its narrow drawbridge over the inner harbour. The fortress was built in the 13th century as a military port and garrison, with a large harbour protected by walls where the Scaligero fleet was anchored. Climb the main tower for views over the entire lake and peninsula, then walk the walled lane to the Grotte di Catullo for Roman history.

Board a lake ferry for a cruise along the southern shore of Lake Garda. The boat passes the medieval walled town of Lazise — one of the best-preserved Scaligero fortified villages on the lake — with its 14th-century customs house and port walls. The cruise continues past Peschiera del Garda, where the Venetians built the largest star-shaped fortress in northern Italy in the 16th century.

Disembark at Lazise and walk through the intact Scaligero walls that enclose this small medieval town. The 14th-century Scaligero Castle of Lazise and its custom house (one of the oldest in Italy) overlook the boat harbour. Free time to explore the walled lanes, visit the Romanesque church of San Nicolò, and enjoy a coffee on the waterfront before the return to Verona.