Sirmione

This weekend Peggy suggested that we go to Sirmione.  We had planned on going there while were in Verona for the couples conference, but we were too tired after touring Verona and came home instead.  It was a little over 1.5 hours away.  We got there and pulled into a large paid parking lot that counts the number of cars in and out so we knew there was a parking place somewhere.  After driving around for 10 minutes we went past the buses where it told us not to go and found a graveled lot and barely found a spot there.

Sirmione is a small narrow peninsula at the southern end of Lago Garda (the largest lake in Italy).  It has been the vacation spot for royalty and the rich for thousands of years.  From the parking lot it was only about 500 yards to the Castle.

The castle had draw bridges, a couple of towers and an ancient private marina where the royalty would park their boats.

 From the top of the tower here is a view of the old town and then the trees and such towards the end of the peninsula.

We strolled thru town and then came to a park where there we three small battery powered trains.  It cost 1 euro to ride the train past the hotels to the end of the Peninsula where there was a museum and the excavated grottoes of Catullus.

This excavated private residence was built in the 1st century BC

There were locations where you could see the original mosaic floor. These mosaic pieces are about 1/4 inch squares.

Other spots showed the large rooms that were on the top floor

We walked several steps to the edge of the cliff that dropped down to the lake.  Off in the distance you can see the vacationers laying on the long dock for that hotel

                              An old olive orchard surrounded the ancient villa.

                            And there were olives growing on some of the trees.

Here is an old room or patio that has been paved with tiny bricks about 1 by 2 inches each.

As we walked towards the far end of the ancient villa you could see some of the supports for the large building.

At the far north end of the building were many levels as the building dropped down to the lake shore.

It was really neat to look at.

Here are three old olive threes that have holes through the lower truck.

I have no idea how old the trees are.

After we walked thru the ruins we rode the little train back to the town.  The peninsula is also known for its hot springs.  This is the courtyard and entrance to the swimming pool.  Very fancy. we didn't go swimming but we did see that those that were all had identical swimming caps on.

We walked back through town, bought our mandatory souvenir refrigerator magnet and saw this gate way house with a fabulous flowering tree or vine.

After having lunch at one of the many sidewalk restaurants, we then wandered down the narrow streets.  You can see the castle at the end of this street.  Of course we got some gelato at one of the many many gelato shops in this town.  There are more very large gelato shops here than anywhere else I have seen in Italy.  This must be THE place to come for Gelato.

Cimitero Monumentale

Saturday we didn't have anything planned.  One of the top 5 things to see in Milano is the Cimitero Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery).  I understand that many of the rich and famous people in Italy are buried here.

We saw this strange tower as we walked from the metro stop to the cemetery.  Very colorful.

The central building.  It has several wings that stretch out each with several floors.

Once inside the cemetery there are private mausoleums everywhere.

Kind of a neat head stone - They obviously believe in the resurrection.

A life size bronze sculpture of the last supper.

Here is the head of Medusa attempting to grab this guy.

These three markings look like the golden arches of McDonalds

Another stunning one with life sized people going up the tower.

You can walk inside and look up through the tower.

This one looks like it came from the German war machine.

Glass walls with a large floral arrangement inside.  (the bodies are stored on the next level up)

A very large private mausoleum

Back in the  main building are many halls just packed with crypts.  Some of them had a notice on them that their rent was over due.  Not sure if there are eviction procedures or not.

This section is for the Jewish people.

We walked back to the Metro a different way and saw this skyscraper

The ancient city gate - Porta Garibaldi

As we got nearer to the Metro station the city became much more vibrant and upscale.

Across the road from the metro station were these two large apartment buildings.  Each apartment has a terrace with large trees planted.  I saw a TV program about these buildings and when the trees are mature they will cover most of the building, provide shade and be very green.

Lago Maggiore

Saturday with the Keeffers we were planning on going to Lago Maggiore.  I had received a call on Friday that one of the brand new missionaries had lost her purse on her very first full day in her new area.  She now had no money and no access to any money.  We decided to drive to her apartment in Varese, drop off some cash for her, and then drive to Lago Maggore.

The town of Leveno on Lago Maggiore as we were pulling out on the car ferry.

Great Castle as seen from the lake.

We crossed he lake to Verbania and found a parking place above the Coop grocery store.  These were the bike racks they had at the grocery store. We wandered around for a while, the street market was in full action.  We had lunch a very nice place Then we went back to a great gelateria that had very large selection.  I love gelato.

We drove south along the lake shore to the resort town of Stressa.  Just offshore was this very famous island called Isola Bella.  The southern 75% of the island is an enormous centuries old formal garden.

Next stop was the town of Arona.  Up on the mountain side is a Colossus style bronze statue of San Carlo.  You can climb a vertical ladder up 10 stories and look out of his ears and eyes.  We did not do it.

We also went to a fabulous look out point at the birthplace of San Carlo where there is an ancient Castle.  But the best part are the views of Lago Maggiore in all directions.

Walking back to the car.