Sirmione

A 13th-century moated castle whose crenellated towers guard the entrance to the old town. The outer courtyard is open to leashed dogs; the tower climb and some interior rooms are off-limits to them.

A vast ruined Roman villa at the peninsula's tip, set in an olive grove overlooking the lake. An open-air archaeological park where leashed dogs are allowed; check at the entrance in high season.

Bathing over broad flat rock slabs at the peninsula's tip, near the Grotte di Catullo. Clear, shallow water; dogs are tolerated away from the busiest spots, so keep them leashed.

The sulphurous thermal springs that made Sirmione famous, with the lakeside Aquaria spa. Pets are not allowed in the thermal complex; arrange dog care if you want to enjoy it.

A maze of entirely pedestrian cobbled lanes lined with shops, gelaterie and terraces. Charming with a dog early in the morning or in the evening; in summer the crowds are very dense at peak hours.

Boats and ferries linking Sirmione to the lakeside villages of Lake Garda (Desenzano, Peschiera, Garda). Dogs are allowed on board on a leash, often with a reduced or free ticket depending on size.