Sirmione castle (XIII century), with its towers and crenellated walls, was the strategic base for the control of the lake. The famous Sirmione castle dates from the Scaligero period and its dock – still in perfect state of preservation – represents a rare example of a fortification designed for port use. The castle keep was built in the XIII century, probably on the orders of Mastino I della Scala.
The powerful manor, which is completely surrounded by water, has an internal portico where there is a display of Roman and Medieval inscribed stones; steps in the second wall, which is reached by a drawbridge, go up to the walkways around the walls: from here the evocative dock, ancient refuge of the Scaligero fleet, can be admired.
The gates could be closed in a variety of ways: from the pedestrian and carriage drawbridge, to the metal rolling shutter and, in more recent times, hinged double doors.
Thanks to its position on the border of the territory, Sirmione became a nerve centre in the Scaligero defence and command system and would remain so until the XVI century when its position was replaced by Peschiera. Venice annexed Sirmione to its Republic in 1405 and immediately strove to make the castle even more secure by strengthening the walls and widening the obsolete Scaligera dock.