Villa Arcadio, Salo, Lake Garda, Italy - Explore & Book

"A former monastery, it had been empty for decades when Francesco and Jaana bought the villa in 1996. A seasoned travel-industry pro, Jaana was looking for a new project. And this was some task; transforming a medieval ruin into an 18-room boutique hotel took the best part of 10 years.Behind rough rubbled stone, she has created elegant salons illuminated by walls of glass and furnished with a stylish collection of English grandfather clocks, Italian prints, antique mirrors and smart Casa Milano armchairs. There is a candlelit dining room under a vaulted ceiling, an inner courtyard of trailing bougainvillea, and a glamorous outdoor pool lined with loungers. But the location is the thing. Step onto the terrace, where laced wrought-iron chairs sit beneath a vine-draped pergola, and look at that heavenly view: lush gardens speared with cypress trees and, beyond, the sparkling waters of Italy’s largest lake. Watch the sun slip behind the green mountains, or the twinkling lights of Salò against a fading evening sky. Pure magic. Highs Those views - blissing out by the pool as boats shimmered across the lake below was unforgettableSensational food in the beautiful restaurant, with 4-course tasting menus and produce grown in the gardensNearby Salò, a charming lakeside town with bars, restaurants and upmarket boutiques (30-minute walk or short taxi ride)Superb rooms where sleek furniture and expensive linens sit under beamed ceilings or fragments of 13th-century frescoes Excellent service Lows There’s a constant hum of traffic from the nearby road, though the double glazing cuts out most of the noise in the roomsIf you're visiting outside of peak summer season there are no lunches or light bites offered during the day - you'll need to drive outRooms can be rather pricey in high seasonYou'll need a car to explore the area, although taxis can be arranged and there is a bus stop close byGarden view rooms have the same price tag as lake view rooms, but some do have private terraces" - Lesley Gillilan