Why did Catullus celebrate Sirmio in a poem?

Catullus celebrated Sirmio in his poetry because it served as his beloved retreat. Located on Lake Garda in northern Italy, Sirmio (modern Sirmione) was a place where the poet owned property and to which he returned following his service in Bithynia.12

His poem saluting Sirmio is considered one of his transcendent compositions, standing alongside his most memorable works that capture personal emotion and the atmosphere of the late Roman Republic.1