DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Our hotel was inside the ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato, the limited traffic zone) and did not have parking, so we had to park in a parking lot outside the ZTL and get a ride in via an “overgrown golf cart.” Cars are only allowed in a ZTL with approval by the local authorities and there will be a fine if you enter one and are not authorized to do so. The streets were narrow and filled with people. It was a harrowing ride through the castle and narrow streets with all of the pedestrians, and the driver honking as we went to alert the pedestrians. I didn’t know it at the time, but I would be doing the same drive in our rental car later in the evening and in the reverse direction the following morning!

The hotel we had reserved seemed very nice and was right on the lake. However, the elevator was broken, apparently due to the heat; it was above 90F. They were working on the elevator, so we went to the hotel restaurant for a snack and a cold drink. They then said they wouldn’t have the elevator repaired until tomorrow. Our room was up two flights of stairs, it was hot and we were tired from the heat. They had another room on the ground floor that they showed us. It was like a dungeon and unacceptable. They said they would try to find us another hotel. It was our 51st wedding anniversary and before the Viking cruise, we booked a sunset cruise on the lake to celebrate. The hotel said they would have the arrangements made by the time we returned.

The Scaligero Castle (photos 7-9) is a fortress from the Scaliger era, access point to the historical center of Sirmione, on Lake Garda. It's one of Italy's best preserved castles. Built in the latter half of the 14th century on the southernmost part of Lake Garda in the Northern Italy. Construction was initiated on behalf of the Della Scala family of Verona, who are known as the Scaligeri from which it takes its name. The family ruled Verona and a large part of the Venetian area from the years 1259 to 1387. The castle was later controlled by the Republic of Venice from the 15th century after the Della Scala family submitted to Venice in 1405. It continued to be an important fortification in the area. Its decline in importance began with the completion of the nearby fortress in Peschiera del Garda in the 16th century. It continued to be used as an armory and fortification until the Unification of Italy when it became the office of the local government of Sirmione. Restoration began after World War I in 1919, when it became a museum and tourist attraction. However it was not fully restored until 2018 when the internal waters of the castle were cleared. The internal docks are the only surviving example of a 14th-century fortified port.

It was a beautiful evening and a great way to celebrate our 51st wedding anniversary. We circumnavigated the peninsula on which Sirmione is located, going under the bridge to the Scaliger Castle at the end. The cruise was very enjoyable and over an hour long. The Prosecco flowed freely!

My previous post can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-805064-1.html, while the first post of this series (that includes a map of all of the places where we stopped) can be found at https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-801137-1.html

Next up: More of Lake Garda

Approaching the Scaliger Castle in the “giant golf cart”

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Our first (and not last!) Hugo

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Notice how narrow and crowded the streets are. Though I didn’t know it at the time I took this photo, that is where I would be driving in a couple of hours

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Decisions, decisions…..

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We chose this gelateria, enjoyed our gelato on our way to the boat and it was delicious!

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Walking through Sirmione, note the castle at the end of the street

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Scaliger Castle

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Cruising away from Scaliger Castle, with the bridge that we drove over going in and out of Sirmione

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Just after departing on our cruise around the peninsula, on which Sirmione is located

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The captain opening one of the many bottles of Prosecco

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UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Your journey continues in style, Dennis.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thanks Mike. It was a great way to celebrate our anniversary, and as you will see later, we ended up in a beautiful hotel, nice enough that we also stayed there last year.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Now that looks like a castle. Really nice set.

srfmhg Loc: Marin County, CA

Great set Dennis. I love #9!

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thank you NMGal, I really appreciate your comments.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thanks Mark, it was another great time out on the water. Let's see, castle, gelato, out on a beautiful lake to celebrate our wedding anniversay in Italy with Prosecco.........life is good.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Fine set Dennis.

Don

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thank you Don.

Dennis

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

CCPhotoist Loc: Cape Cod

Very nice set.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thank you for the thumbs up John.

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thank you CCPhotoist, I appreciate it.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

Woops! You really outdid yourself on the photos Dennis. I love #8 especially, with the flowers draped all over everything. Oh, and I would love to hide so they didn't know I was left in there and stay all night there with all that gelato!!! Next morning, they'd find me in there grinning like I'd just won the lottery!!!

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

Thank you Jo; we liked it so much that we went back there last year. The gelato was delicious!