Casa del Pescatore

The Casa del Pescatore at Punta Grò preserves a working-lake chapter of Sirmione's history. Former fishing buildings have been restored and interpreted as a museum site devoted to the culture of water and the lives of Garda's fishermen.

Why it matters

The site connects the lakeside landscape with the labour that sustained local fishing communities. The house and net warehouse recall the equipment, preparation and repeated night-time work behind the catch.

What to notice

Five outdoor interactive totems use a fisherman's voice to tell stories of the place. The indoor interpretation occupies the former net warehouse and house. Another distinctive feature is the paròl, a boiler used to treat cotton nets with chestnut husks, helping strengthen them and slow their deterioration before nylon replaced cotton.

Context and history

Punta Grò's shallow rocky lakebed created favourable conditions for fishing. Crews used the house during night fishing, and live fish were kept in tanks associated with the adjacent channel and lake. These practices form the background to the restored buildings, where personal testimony complements the physical remains of a former working environment.