Thank goodness for a hotel with air conditioning and a good night’s sleep. It was hard to believe that this was our last morning and we would be home later in the day. Wandered down for a leisurely breakfast and then got ourselves tidied up and re-packed. Checked out and then gingerly opened the car, desperately hoping the clean-up job had worked and the car wouldn’t smell like a brewery. Success! The car smelt fine.
With our route home passing close to Lago Garda we thought we should at least make a visit to the shore. Using the map book we identified a spit of land that extends out into the lake. Setting the GPS for ‘Sirmione’ we were away. What a find!
We parked in a public carpark that seemed to be well out along the bar then walked on from there. Passing several touristy shops and some gorgeous hotels we suddenly came upon the castle, La Rocca Scaligeri. Named for the Della Scala family from Verona it was one of their family homes. Building began in 1277 and the fortress evolved over the next 100 odd years in four distinct stages finishing with the addition of the walled harbour.
We crossed the moat and paying a small entrance fee began to explore the simple interior. There are three main levels to the castle; the ground floor, the walls and the high tower. Caitlin, Mum and I easily made it up the first set of 77 steps to the top of the surrounding walls and that was more than high enough for Caitlin. Turns out she is definitely her father’s daughter and has inherited his family aversion to heights.
Mum and I ventured on up to the next stage - the tall tower. This was much more of a challenge with some of the flights more like ladders than stairs. The view was definitely worth the effort required to clamber backwards down the ladders to reach Caitlin again.
From the walls the descent to the floor of the castle was easily made. Caitlin was mightily pleased although, getting her ‘grounded’ again took a little time and was greatly aided by a plastic bowl of delicious fresh melon and a paddle on the rocks.
Homeward bound we headed on the last leg of our grand expedition and two hours later the gates were at last in sight. As we pulled into the carpark we realised just how much we had been missed.
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