Cygnus Swan

The Italian Lake District, which stretches across Northern Italy bordering the Alps and Switzerland, is a popular vacation area for both Italians and Northern Europeans. The lake shores, especially the southern ends, have moderate climates, while the northern ends extend into and are encompassed by the Alps. Lake Garda, just west of Verona, has a thin peninsula that extends north from the southern shore. The Roman merchant town of Sirmione is at the northern end. Access to the town is guarded by castello scaligero di Sirmione (Scaligero Castle). Originally, the town entrance was across the mote’s draw bridge and through the castle. The Castle was rebuilt in the 13th century and a connected safe harbor added at the request of merchants in Verona who traded through Sirmione. At the very tip of the peninsula is the Archaeological site of Grotte di Catullo. These are the ruins of a huge Roman villa from the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. We found the swan (Cygnus Atratus) swimming in the castle mote, but did not see its mate (Swans typically are found in pairs). The other photos are of the town, castle, and and lake front. Even on a cloudy and periodically rainy day, the place was packed.