Sunset at Lake Garda

October 6, 2010
This afternoon was the “social event” of the conference. We took a bus to Lake Garda, the largest lake in all of Italy. Fifty two kilometers in length, it is roughly shaped like a rifle (see map in bottom photo). Our destination was Sermione, a historic town on a peninsula that extends at the southernmost part of the lake. At the entrance to Sirmione is a 13th century castle that was the home of the wealthy Della Scala family, whose coat of arms was a ladder (scala means ladder). Sermione was strategically placed between Lombardy and Verona and there were many wars over the castle. We then took a short walk and tram ride to the “Grotto de Catullo,” which was a double misnomer. The “Grotto” was originally thought to be a cave, but it is actually the ruins of a massive ancient Roman villa at the tip of the peninsula. The ruins were once believed to be the home of the Roman poet Cataulus, who wrote about Lake Garda, but he died in the first century A.D. before the villa was actually constructed. No one knows who lived at this massive estate. It is quite a mystery. At present, the structure of the lower level is reasonably intact, but where the upper part of the house stood there are now olive trees. Because the house was on the peninsula it was surrounded by water and mountains. It was a gorgeous setting. We were fortunate that it did not rain, although rain clouds were all around us. Ultimately we were rewarded with a spectacular sunset!