Grottoes of Catullus, Archaeological site in Sirmione, Italy.
The Grottoes of Catullus are a Roman villa on the tip of the Sirmione peninsula at Lake Garda, covering two hectares. The rectangular structures measure 167 by 105 meters (548 by 344 feet) and include living quarters, terraces, and underground passages.
Construction began at the end of the first century BC and was completed in the first century AD. Inhabitants left the complex in the third century.
The name Grotten came from medieval times when collapsed vaults resembled caves, later linked by scholars to poet Catullus. Visitors walk today through what were once reception rooms and gardens designed for entertaining guests.
The site opens daily and allows visitors to walk through the ruins and the adjacent olive grove. The path covers uneven ground, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
The grounds host 1500 olive trees from three varieties that have grown here for centuries. The harvest produces an extra virgin olive oil made on site.
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