Grotte di Catullo

Museum – Sirmione, Lake Garda

Grotte di Catullo

Located at the tip of the Sirmione peninsula, the Grotte di Catullo (Catullo’s Caves) stands as a testament to the grandeur of ancient Roman architecture. These ruins represent the largest and most luxurious private residence in northern Italy, offering visitors an extraordinary panoramic view.

Since the Renaissance, the site has been known as the “Grotte di Catullo” due to the collapsed structures overgrown with vegetation, resembling natural caverns. The name references the Latin poet Catullus, who died in 54 B.C., and celebrated Sirmione in his verses, describing it as a jewel among all islands and peninsulas of seas and lakes.

Scientific excavations began in the mid-19th century, but it wasn’t until the public acquisition of the area between 1947 and 1949 that extensive research was conducted. These efforts culminated in the publication of the first guide to the site in 1956, correctly interpreting it as a sumptuous villa.

GROTTE DI CATULLO

Piazzale Orti Manara, 4 – 25019 Sirmione

See on the Map

+39 030 916157

Visit Museum’s webpage

Architectural Details

Recent studies have refined the chronology of the villa, confirming its construction during the Augustan age (late 1st century B.C. to early 1st century A.D.) and its abandonment in the 3rd century A.D. The villa was built as a single, unified project, characterized by precise axiality and symmetry in its orientation and spatial distribution.

A survey in the southern sector of the villa revealed remnants of a building predating the grand villa, which was intentionally abandoned and demolished down to its foundations when the new structure was erected.

Villa Layout

The villa spans over two hectares, featuring a rectangular plan (167 x 105 meters) with two projecting wings on the short sides. It was developed over three levels, with the lowest level constructed through significant excavation and supported by strong foundations. The residential upper floor, which included a thermal bath section, was accessed from the main entrance on the south side, facing the mainland. This level also featured loggias and open terraces along the long sides, extending to a belvedere over the water.

The central area of the residence housed a vast open rectangular space of approximately 4,000 square meters, believed to be the main garden. This garden was surrounded by a portico and internally divided by pathways and well-tended flowerbeds, as inferred from similar preserved wall paintings.

Post-Abandonment and Later Uses

After the villa’s abandonment in the 3rd century A.D., the site became a necropolis in the late 4th to early 5th century. It was later incorporated into a fortified enclosure, becoming part of the peninsula’s defensive structure.

Visitor Information

Today, multilingual panels guide visitors through the archaeological site. Access restrictions may be imposed for safety reasons depending on weather conditions.

The Grotte di Catullo offers a remarkable journey into the past, showcasing the opulence and architectural ingenuity of ancient Rome amidst the stunning backdrop of Lake Garda.