Sirmione: Archaeological Investigations Resume at the Grotte di Catullo. The Regional Directorate of National Museums of Lombardy has launched an excavation project in the “Cortile N” of the Grotte di Catullo villa, funded by the General Directorate of Museums of the Ministry of Culture. This initiative focuses on an area that had not been investigated until 2021, when a test trench was dug in the southwest corner of the courtyard during the renovation of a modern fence. Previous investigations had already uncovered part of a porticoed atrium dating back to the Augustan phase of the villa.
Currently, the excavation is being conducted by Semper s.r.l., under the scientific direction of Dr. Barbara Bianchi, and aims to clarify the development of the porticoed atrium and its structural relationships with the nearby peristyle and the large cistern. The research, covering an area of approximately 60 square meters, has already yielded significant portions of the eastern wing of the portico and several rooms with mosaic flooring in black and white tiles. Additionally, wall traces dating back to the first half of the 1st century BC have been identified, thus contributing to a broader understanding of the historical significance of the entire complex and enhancing the visitor experience in this historically rich area.
