Lake Garda

The stunning Lake Garda spreads its tendrils through the Prealps of Veneto, Lombardy, and the South Tyrol. From south to north, it unfolds in gleaming blue waters that have flowed down from the meadows and glaciers on high, starting with the vineyard-cloaked lowlands of Peschiera del Garda, ending at the jagged Ledro Alps above the fortified town of Riva del Garda.

Less famous perhaps than Lake Como, yet the largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda was once a luxury travel destination for the Romans. It now welcomes discerning travellers from all around the world. They come to explore fairy-tale towns like Malcesine and Limone Sul Garda, to wallow on the pebble lake beaches, to cycle, hike, and ski. But they also come for the luxury villas in Lake Garda, which could be anything from sleek modern builds with infinity pools overlooking the mountains to grand 18th-century mansions with gardens of slender cypress trees.

Adventure-hungry travellers will be right at home in these parts. You can launch daring via ferrata expeditions on the bluffs of Arco in the north. You can hike the soaring trails of Monte Baldo along the eastern shore. You can whiz on windsurfs between the bays of Torbole and Limone. You can cycle the dramatic Ponale path into the idyllic Ledro Valley for glimpses of Italian farming communities.

But the region isn't just for those with bags of energy. There's real R&R to be had. Hit the steaming hot springs of Sirmione in the south, a handsome town that dates back to the medieval ages and still sports enchanting gateways and towers. Then head back to your private villa with its heated pool and bathe on the shores of Lake Garda as you gaze at the emerald mountains all around.

Then, there are the charms of the various shoreline towns and villages. It's hard not to fall in love with Malcesine, a maze of cobbled alleys that suddenly happens upon bar-ringed piazzas and romantic castles that rise above the glistening waters. There's also Riva del Garda, a proud mass of old walls that encircles bustling trattoria and atmospheric beer halls at the very northern tip of the lake. Another unmissable destination is Gardone Riviera – “the garden city” – which features the historic home and museum Vittoriale degli Italiani, which boasts an outdoor theatre with a rich program of performances during the summer months.

To enjoy all this and more, get in touch now to find your perfect luxury villa for a memorable holiday on Lake Garda.