Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, is situated in the north of the country, between the cities of Venice and Milan, each around a 2 hour drive. On the edge of the Dolomites, the northern part of the lake is surrounded by mountain peaks, while the south is known more for its Mediterranean climate, lush vegetation, beautiful historic villas and palazzi, and parks. The area is loved as a holiday destination for its wonderful relaxing ambience and views, its welcoming local population, its cuisine, and the large choice of activities for visitors. The latter includes boat trips and sailing, mountain hiking, golf, and visiting beautiful historic homes and gardens.
On the south-west shore of the lake is a small tourist resort known as the Gardone Riviera.
Known for its beautiful lakeside promenade lined with flowers, impressive villas and parks, it also benefits from wonderful lake and mountain views. There is both a lower town, Gardone Sotto, with its high end hotels and bars, and an upper town, Gardone Sopra, a short walk uphill and with a very charming old historic centre, with small restaurants, courtyards, stairs and flowers..
A famous place of interest in Gardone Sopra, and well worth a visit, is the Vittoriale degli Italiani, originally the property of the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio from 1912 to 1938. In the building, which is surrounded by beautiful gardens, there is the tomb of D’Annunzio, the museum of D’Annunzio, a library, and an open-air theatre. The Gardone Riviera is also convenient for visiting Garda Island, privately owned by the Cavazza family. With lush vegetation, and stunning parks, the estate was made open to the public in 2002. Other activities in the area include boat trips and sailing, golf, hiking, and mountain biking. The Italian environmental organisation Legambiente has rewarded Gardone Riviera with an award for its particularly clean water and its local environmental policy efforts.
The five independent luxury villas we have to rent on Lake Garda, are situated just a two minute drive north of the Gardone Riviera, within large (78.000m2) park-like grounds. Designed by international star architects, each villa benefits from direct views over the lake. The resort also offers hotel rooms, and some stunning large apartments to rent, as well as a top class restaurant, and a luxury spa and wellness centre.