Con il termine "Grotte di Catullo" si identifica una villa romana edificata tra la fine del I secolo a.C. e il I secolo d.C. a Sirmione, in provincia di Brescia, sulla riva meridionale del Lago di Garda. Il complesso archeologico, parte del quale, soprattutto del settore settentrionale, è sempre rimasto in vista, è stato oggetto di visite e speculazioni erudite dal XV secolo, è oggi la testimonianza più importante del periodo romano nel territorio di Sirmione ed è l'esempio più imponente di villa romana presente nell'Italia settentrionale.

Nel 2013 il complesso delle Grotte di Catullo e del museo archeologico di Sirmione sono stati il ventisettesimo sito statale italiano più visitato, con 215.961 visitatori

La grande villa, al di sotto della quale sono state rinvenute strutture del I secolo a.C., venne edificata agli inizi del I secolo d.C.. La villa doveva essere in stato di abbandono già nel III secolo quando parte della sua decorazione architettonica venne reimpiegata nell'altra villa romana di Sirmione, quella di Via Antiche Mura. Fra il IV secolo e il V secolo le imponenti strutture superstiti della villa vennero incluse nelle fortificazioni che recingevano la penisola di Sirmione e all'interno dei resti dell'edificio romano vennero realizzate delle sepolture.

Nel corso dei secoli, come si è detto, diversi cronisti e viaggiatori visitarono le rovine, ma i primi studi concreti su di esse furono effettuati solamente nel 1801 dal generale Lacombe-Saint-Michel, comandante d'artiglieria dell'esercito di Napoleone Bonaparte. Successivamente, il conte veronese Giovanni Girolamo Orti Manara eseguì scavi e rilievi, ancor oggi fondamentali, che pubblicò nel 1856.

Nel 1939 la Soprintendenza per i beni archeologici avviò un ampio programma di scavi e restauri, acquisendo infine nel 1948 l'intera area per permettere un'adeguata tutela del complesso, immerso nel suo ambiente naturale.

Durante gli anni novanta del Novecento ulteriori studi hanno confermato che la costruzione fu realizzata attraverso un progetto unitario, che ne definì l'orientamento e la distribuzione degli spazi interni secondo un preciso criterio di assialità e di simmetria

Peschiera del Garda si trova circa 25 chilometri ad ovest di Verona. Si affaccia a sud del lago di Garda in un'area riparata dai venti.

Presso Peschiera esce l'emissario del lago di Garda, il Mincio. La costruzione della città murata di Peschiera circondata dalle acque ha modificato il percorso naturale del fiume: per permettere la difesa della città, infatti, sono stati costruiti tre rami di uscita dal lago che si riuniscono poi a sud dell'abitato.

È inoltre punto d'inizio di una pista ciclabile di 43.5 km che transita lungo le alzaie del fiume Mincio, tra le città di Peschiera del Garda e Mantova. La partenza, se si segue il tragitto nord-sud, è presso il viadotto ferroviario di Peschiera del Garda. La pista inizia sulla riva destra del Mincio, passando nella riva sinistra subito prima del paese di Monzambano, presso la diga di Salionze.[4]

La città dispone di un'importante stazione ferroviaria sulla linea Milano-Venezia dove fermano treni alta velocità Frecciarossa EC e Italo della linea AV Torino-Venezia e i regionali e regionali veloci della linea Brescia-Verona. Fino al 1967, vi faceva capo anche la ferrovia Mantova-Peschiera.

Dal porto sono raggiungibili tramite battelli tutti i paesi del lago di Garda.

Valeggio contende a Bologna la paternità del tortellino, una sfoglia impalpabile, un ripiendo irresistibile e una lunga tradizione. Ora che sei qui, non puoi non andare alla scoperta deitortellini diValeggio sul Mincio!

Peschiera del Garda is located about 25 kilometres west of Verona. It is located on the southern shore of Lake Garda in an area sheltered from the winds.

Near Peschiera, the lake’s outflowing river, the Mincio, starts its course. The construction of the walled city of Peschiera, surrounded by water, has modified the natural course of the river; indeed, to improve the defence of the city, three outflowing branches from the lake were dug and then joined south of the town.

It is also the starting point of a 43.5 km cycle trail that runs along the towpaths of the River Mincio, between Peschiera del Garda and Mantua. Peschiera is served by a major railway station on the Milan-Venice line. Ferries based at its port sail to all the towns on the Lake Garda shoreline.

Peschiera del Garda is located about 25 kilometres west of Verona. It is located on the southern shore of Lake Garda in an area sheltered from the winds.

Near Peschiera, the lake’s outflowing river, the Mincio, starts its course. The construction of the walled city of Peschiera, surrounded by water, has modified the natural course of the river; indeed, to improve the defence of the city, three outflowing branches from the lake were dug and then joined south of the town.

It is also the starting point of a 43.5 km cycle trail that runs along the towpaths of the River Mincio, between Peschiera del Garda and Mantua. Peschiera is served by a major railway station on the Milan-Venice line. Ferries based at its port sail to all the towns on the Lake Garda shoreline.

This Roman villa was built between the end of the first century BCE and the first century CE in Sirmione, in the province of Brescia, on the southern shore of Lake Garda. The archaeological complex, a part of which has always remained in view, especially its northern sector, has been studied and the subject of speculation from the fifteenth century. Today, it is the most important vestige of the Roman period in the territory of Sirmione and the most striking example of a Roman villa in Northern Italy. This extensive villa, from whose foundations have been excavated ancient structures of the first century BCE, was erected at the beginning of the first century CE. The villa must have fallen into disrepair already in the third century when part of its architectural decor was reused in the other Roman villa in Sirmione, that of Via Antiche Mura. Between the fourth and the fifth centuries, the imposing surviving structures of the villa were absorbed into the fortifications that enclosed the Sirmione peninsula and the interior of the remains of the Roman building were used as a burial ground.

Peschiera del Garda is located about 25 kilometres west of Verona. It is located on the southern shore of Lake Garda in an area sheltered from the winds.

Near Peschiera, the lake’s outflowing river, the Mincio, starts its course. The construction of the walled city of Peschiera, surrounded by water, has modified the natural course of the river; indeed, to improve the defence of the city, three outflowing branches from the lake were dug and then joined south of the town.

It is also the starting point of a 43.5 km cycle trail that runs along the towpaths of the River Mincio, between Peschiera del Garda and Mantua. Peschiera is served by a major railway station on the Milan-Venice line. Ferries based at its port sail to all the towns on the Lake Garda shoreline.

Completed in 2006 and entirely paved, this bidirectional cycle trail with a gentle gradient retraces one of the sides of the famous fortified quadrilateral that the Austrians built in the first half of the 1800s. If you ride it in the north-south direction, its starting point is at the Peschiera del Garda railway viaduct. The trail starts on the right bank of the Mincio and crosses to the left of the river at the village of Monzambano, near the Salionze dam. After a short distance along the trail, you come into view of the Scaliger Castle of Valeggio sul Mincio and then reach Borghetto, a charming village with its many distinctive water mills and the ruins of the Visconti bridge. Then the trail turns away from the river and continues along the canals of the Mantuan plain. After about 20 km, you reach the city of Mantua. Here we advise that you continue on the pedestrian and bicycle lane which runs along the shoreline of Lake Mezzo until you reach the castle of Mantua.

Completed in 2006 and entirely paved, this bidirectional cycle trail with a gentle gradient retraces one of the sides of the famous fortified quadrilateral that the Austrians built in the first half of the 1800s. If you ride it in the north-south direction, its starting point is at the Peschiera del Garda railway viaduct. The trail starts on the right bank of the Mincio and crosses to the left of the river at the village of Monzambano, near the Salionze dam. After a short distance along the trail, you come into view of the Scaliger Castle of Valeggio sul Mincio and then reach Borghetto, a charming village with its many distinctive water mills and the ruins of the Visconti bridge. Then the trail turns away from the river and continues along the canals of the Mantuan plain. After about 20 km, you reach the city of Mantua. Here we advise that you continue on the pedestrian and bicycle lane which runs along the shoreline of Lake Mezzo until you reach the castle of Mantua.

Completed in 2006 and entirely paved, this bidirectional cycle trail with a gentle gradient retraces one of the sides of the famous fortified quadrilateral that the Austrians built in the first half of the 1800s. If you ride it in the north-south direction, its starting point is at the Peschiera del Garda railway viaduct. The trail starts on the right bank of the Mincio and crosses to the left of the river at the village of Monzambano, near the Salionze dam. After a short distance along the trail, you come into view of the Scaliger Castle of Valeggio sul Mincio and then reach Borghetto, a charming village with its many distinctive water mills and the ruins of the Visconti bridge. Then the trail turns away from the river and continues along the canals of the Mantuan plain. After about 20 km, you reach the city of Mantua. Here we advise that you continue on the pedestrian and bicycle lane which runs along the shoreline of Lake Mezzo until you reach the castle of Mantua.

This Roman villa was built between the end of the first century BCE and the first century CE in Sirmione, in the province of Brescia, on the southern shore of Lake Garda. The archaeological complex, a part of which has always remained in view, especially its northern sector, has been studied and the subject of speculation from the fifteenth century. Today, it is the most important vestige of the Roman period in the territory of Sirmione and the most striking example of a Roman villa in Northern Italy. This extensive villa, from whose foundations have been excavated ancient structures of the first century BCE, was erected at the beginning of the first century CE. The villa must have fallen into disrepair already in the third century when part of its architectural decor was reused in the other Roman villa in Sirmione, that of Via Antiche Mura. Between the fourth and the fifth centuries, the imposing surviving structures of the villa were absorbed into the fortifications that enclosed the Sirmione peninsula and the interior of the remains of the Roman building were used as a burial ground.

This Roman villa was built between the end of the first century BCE and the first century CE in Sirmione, in the province of Brescia, on the southern shore of Lake Garda. The archaeological complex, a part of which has always remained in view, especially its northern sector, has been studied and the subject of speculation from the fifteenth century. Today, it is the most important vestige of the Roman period in the territory of Sirmione and the most striking example of a Roman villa in Northern Italy. This extensive villa, from whose foundations have been excavated ancient structures of the first century BCE, was erected at the beginning of the first century CE. The villa must have fallen into disrepair already in the third century when part of its architectural decor was reused in the other Roman villa in Sirmione, that of Via Antiche Mura. Between the fourth and the fifth centuries, the imposing surviving structures of the villa were absorbed into the fortifications that enclosed the Sirmione peninsula and the interior of the remains of the Roman building were used as a burial ground.

Valeggio has always challenged Bologna’s title as the birthplace of the “tortellino”, an ethereal leaf of pasta, sublime stuffing and a timeless tradition. Now that you’re here, you can’t miss sampling the tortellini of Valeggio sul Mincio! Legend tells of a love story between a troop captain and a nymph. The couple fell in love instantly but the beautiful nymph had to return to the waters of the Mincio before the break of dawn. As a love token, she gave the captain a knotted handkerchief. In today’s folklore, it is said that on feast days girls used to celebrate the story of the two lovers by rolling out pastry as thin as silk, cutting shapes, knotting them like a golden handkerchief and embellishing them with a delicious filling. It was the Tortellino of Valeggio.

Valeggio has always challenged Bologna’s title as the birthplace of the “tortellino”, an ethereal leaf of pasta, sublime stuffing and a timeless tradition. Now that you’re here, you can’t miss sampling the tortellini of Valeggio sul Mincio! Legend tells of a love story between a troop captain and a nymph. The couple fell in love instantly but the beautiful nymph had to return to the waters of the Mincio before the break of dawn. As a love token, she gave the captain a knotted handkerchief. In today’s folklore, it is said that on feast days girls used to celebrate the story of the two lovers by rolling out pastry as thin as silk, cutting shapes, knotting them like a golden handkerchief and embellishing them with a delicious filling. It was the Tortellino of Valeggio.

Valeggio has always challenged Bologna’s title as the birthplace of the “tortellino”, an ethereal leaf of pasta, sublime stuffing and a timeless tradition. Now that you’re here, you can’t miss sampling the tortellini of Valeggio sul Mincio! Legend tells of a love story between a troop captain and a nymph. The couple fell in love instantly but the beautiful nymph had to return to the waters of the Mincio before the break of dawn. As a love token, she gave the captain a knotted handkerchief. In today’s folklore, it is said that on feast days girls used to celebrate the story of the two lovers by rolling out pastry as thin as silk, cutting shapes, knotting them like a golden handkerchief and embellishing them with a delicious filling. It was the Tortellino of Valeggio.

Completata nel 2006 e interamente pavimentata, questa pista ciclabile bidirezionale con una leggera pendenza ripercorre uno dei lati del famoso quadrilatero fortificato che gli austriaci costruirono nella prima metà del 1800. Se lo percorri in direzione nord-sud, il suo punto di partenza è il viadotto ferroviario di Peschiera del Garda. Il sentiero inizia sulla riva destra del Mincio e attraversa a sinistra del fiume nel villaggio di Monzambano, vicino alla diga di Salionze. Dopo una breve distanza lungo il sentiero, si arriva alla vista del Castello Scaligero di Valeggio sul Mincio e poi si raggiunge Borghetto, un incantevole villaggio con i suoi numerosi mulini ad acqua distintivi e le rovine del ponte Visconteo. Quindi il sentiero si allontana dal fiume e continua lungo i canali della pianura mantovana. Dopo circa 20 km, si raggiunge la città di Mantova. Qui ti consigliamo di proseguire sulla pista pedonale e ciclabile che costeggia il litorale del lago Mezzo fino a raggiungere il castello di Mantova.