Sirmione

Paene insularum, Sirmio, insularumque
Ocelle, quascumque in liquentibus stagnis
Marique vasto fert uterque Neptunus,
Quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso...

Bright jewel of headlands, bright jewel of the seas,
And Neptune's lake, oh Sirmio, you shine
Sparkling and beautiful, of restful ease
And joy. The thought that you are mine
Turns all my cares to untold delights
On seeing you again

So wrote Catullus when he returned to his family home at Sirmio in around 64BC, and his description of this place at the end of a small peninsula on the south side of Lake Garda, still holds true. I strongly recommend a visit. Glorious weather, stunning scenery and some amusing translations including, "Menu of the salty water" and "Menu of the beasts and the air."

There are the remains of a substantial Roman villa, built at the end of the first century BC. I noticed a pair of gleaming amber eyes looking out from one of its rooms above the tourist path: a sleek black cat is now the occupier.