Lake Garda, Sirmione and the Baths

The blogger fotografersha writes: Lake Garda, the largest in Italy, is located in a basin of glacial-tectonic origin near the southern foot of the Alps, where the regions of Lombardy, Trentino and Veneto are connected. Numerous resorts are located on its shores: Sirmione, Desenzano del Garda, Limone sul Garda and others.

Today we will look at the town of Sirmione, which is located on the peninsula of the same name in the south of the lake.

(Total 45 photos)

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2. The surface area of Lake Garda is 370 square kilometers, the depth is up to 346 m, it is navigable and the shortest river in Italy, the Mincio, flows from it. By the way, Lake Baikal is 85 times larger.

3. The northern narrow part of the lake is more like a fjord with the height of the ridges surrounding it up to 2000 meters, which serves as an excellent protection from the winds and contributes to a mild climate.

4. Due to the fact that Garda is located between the large tourist centers of Milan and Venice, various shows and fashion shows are often held on its banks. And Verona can be reached in half an hour.

5. The Sirmione peninsula stretches for four kilometers in the south of the lake and in some places is from 30 to 100 meters wide.

6. About six thousand people live and work here, mainly due to the tourism business, which makes up the city's economy.

7. In the 13th century, the Veronese Scaligers owned the city and the name of the castle at the entrance to the historical part of the peninsula is associated with their name. The 47-meter central tower is used as an observation deck.

8. We drive into the historical part, everything here is decorated for Christmas and probably looks beautiful in the evening.

9. Our group did not have time to walk around the city, so we had to shoot everything that fell into the frame on the run.

10. A room at the Sirmione Hotel will cost an average of 150 to 300 euros per day. Apparently, the price depends on the view from the window - do you see the lake?

11. In narrow streets where only one car can pass, special traffic lights for one-way traffic are installed. It takes a few minutes to wait for the green signal.

12. The historical part of Sirmione consists of several narrow streets with a large number of souvenir shops, boutiques for shopping, cafes and restaurants. Flowering ivy in December! Well, not fantasy?

13. Beauty.

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15. Well, in general, of course, people come to Sirmione not only for walks and skiing on the lake, but mainly for thermal water, for which several health centers have been built here.

16. Let's look at a couple of such centers. First of all, the thermal complex Terme Catullo and the thermal wellness center Aquaria.

17. In 1889, a certain Venetian diver Procopio descended to a depth of 20 meters into Lake Garda and became the discoverer of the healing spring of Sirmione. And 10 years later, the Aquaria thermal center was erected on this site, in which several thousand tourists a year undergo treatment and rehabilitation.

18. Bacteriologically pure water, saturated with sulfur, salts of bromine, iodine, sodium chloride, zinc and selenium, is born at an altitude of 800 m of Mount Baldo, descends to 2500 m below sea level, enriched with microelements and minerals along the way and comes to the surface at a depth of 19 meters at +70C. Then it is cooled in special tanks to +32+36C.

19. The gas component of water - hydrogen sulfide - has a major effect in diseases of the respiratory system, rheumatism, blood vessels, dermatological problems and gynecology. The treatment carried out with the help of this water effectively affects the maintenance and restoration of the physical condition of a person, both in prevention and in treatment and rehabilitation.

20. Reception Aquaria. A five-hour stay at the maximum rate here costs 43 euros on weekends and 39 on weekdays, children under 14 years old - 21 and 19 euros, respectively. Put on a bathrobe, slippers, a magnetic bracelet on your hand and relax ahead!

21. In winter, you can lie at the indoor thermal pool with a panoramic view of Lake Garda. The maximum time spent in thermal water is 15 minutes.

22. There are also conditions for people with disabilities.

23. And it's best to start the day with a workout.

24. Then visit the hydromassage, a relaxing sauna (just don't fall asleep there!), A pool with thermal water and fresh water.

25. Particularly tired can retire in the star zone of silence, where children under 14 are not allowed, and from 14 to 17 only with the written consent of the parents.

26. Personalized treatments, jacuzzis, massages, wellness cabins, steam baths, multi-sensor thermal water showers, music room - what is there for a relaxing holiday. Except beer. But after all it can be later.

27. On the right is a bar counter, where you can always pour yourself tea or coffee and treat yourself to fresh fruit or cookies.

28. The main thing is not to use phones, not to make noise and not to drink food brought with you.

29. And admire delicious interiors with an original design.

30. By the outdoor pool with fresh water, bushes of something forever not green are carefully wrapped up.

31. In general, you can admire the Garda. Add more working people with fire and you can stay alive.

32. The opposite western coast is seven kilometers from here.

33. Wooden beach in Aquaria. In December, when we were there, it was not the season, and in the summer there would certainly not be crowded with those who wanted to.

34. Before entering saunas and swimming pools, it is strongly recommended to take a shower and use antifungal foot baths. After the sauna and bath, it is recommended to take a half-hour break before entering the thermal water pool.

35. The territory of Aquaria occupies more than 10 thousand square meters. meters, of which 6.5 thousand is a park, 3.5 is the area of buildings and 700 m of surface with thermal water.

36. Moving to another hotel - Olivi. Here, a three-hour stay from Monday to Thursday will cost 25 euros, and on the remaining days 30 (with the right to extend the visit - every hour for 5 euros).

37. Indoor pool with salt water and a temperature of + 32-34C.

38. The outdoor thermal pool with a temperature of +34/36 is ideal for relaxing muscles without straining the cardiovascular system. In the center in the distance are "water blades" - for massaging the shoulders and neck. Ideal for relieving neck tension.

39. Another pool on the street is waiting for the opening of the season.

40. Lemons grow throughout the territory. Surely you can ask one to take to your room for a bite to eat "for tea".

41. Access to the Spa is open from 10 am to 8 pm. At the reception, a “kit package” is issued with a bathrobe, slippers, a bracelet and a towel. The booklet contains the item “In the recreation areas, please do not take up places with towels or bathrobes” - obviously they wrote about us :)

42. “Our spa is a place of harmony and relaxation, please use a calm and moderate tone of voice, avoid running around and switch please. your phone to silent mode".

43. A little about Italian sweets. See that bowl over there? And this is not a basin, this is a real cheese head! The cheese is called "Grana Padano", it has been made for almost a thousand years from partially skimmed raw milk, and because of the granular structure of the cheese, the cheese was called Grana - grain in Italian. A couple of pieces are enough to fill you up. I also recommend finding and bringing with you the wonderful olive oil Olio Garda DOP, dried tomatoes and, of course, the famous salami sausage Salame Pozzolengo, produced in the vicinity of Sirmione.

44. I’ll tell you about Limoncella next time - after Sirmione we went to the famous Limone de Garda, where “lemons grow on high mountains on steep banks, you won’t get shorter for steep ones.”

45. Such a beauty!