A moat separates the old town at the tip of the peninsula from the rest of the mainland. From here only a few cars are allowed to drive with a special permit, so that pedestrians can discover the small winding streets with many shops, boutiques, restaurants and cafés undisturbed. You should pay particular attention to the large number of very good gelaterias. Narrow streets and historic stone houses characterize the old town of Sirmione. Of the 7,000 inhabitants of the municipality of Sirmione, just under 300 live in the historic old town. At the entrance to the old town stands the sublime Scaliger Castle. If you keep to the left of it, you will quickly find Piazza Carducci and the Navigarda ferry terminal, from where the Lake Garda ferries depart for Salo, Moniga del Garda, Garda and the northern part of Lake Garda. Worth seeing is the parish church of Santa Maria di Maggiore from the 15th century. The interior bears witness to a baroque renovation in the 18th century. In the immediate vicinity is a sight that has only recently been opened to the public - the Villa Romana. It is a restored Roman villa in the middle of the old town. At the end of the old town is the Mavino Hill, which is overgrown with ancient olive trees. Sirmione is also a health resort. To the west of the Mavino hill, the Biola spring feeds a thermal bath. The healing effect has been known since antiquity and has been attracting spa vacationers to Sirmione since the end of the 19th century. This is followed by the Roman excavation site of the "Grotten des Catullus".