Villa Fiordaliso

There are many reasons to stay at a hotel. At times, you simply need somewhere to sleep while on your way to somewhere else; at other times, you need a strategic base for local exploration.

The Art Nouveau-styled Villa Fiordaliso belongs to a third category, where the hotel itself is the destination.

The reason to stay here is to relax – you check in to check out of your daily routines and allow yourself a few lazy days away from everything and everyone.

Perhaps you don’t even leave the hotel after you arrive.

The large Fiordaliso garden allows for shorter strolls, it's possible to go swimming in the lake and the restaurant is one of the best in the entire region. 

Formerly a private villa, it has its place in history, as during the Italian Social Republic this was the home of Clara Petacci, Benito Mussolini’s mistress. Traces of her time can be found in the Claretta Suite, well preserved with Damasco wallpaper, yellow Siena marble and wooden furnishing.

With only five rooms and an abundance of staff, the atmosphere is intimate.

Across the garden is a high tower, built in Neo-gothic style towards the end of the 19th century but bought and transformed into a private dock in 1925, to be used for Vittorale, the large compound situated not far away.

The tower is also where Mussolini and Petacci would have their tête–à–tête encounters from November 1943 to October 1944. Today, the Torre houses a piano bar, and from May to September, there is an open-air club on Fridays and Saturdays.

Many come here not for the hotel but for its restaurant, run by chef Dino Colantuno, and has one star in the Guide Michelin. It has an excellent wine list, in particular local and Italian wines.

The restaurant specialises in Italian cuisine. They are well-known for the dishes with the local cheese Bagòss, made from cow milk produced in the nearby hillside village Bagolino, using only cows belonging to the race Bruna Alpina (exclusive to this region).

Because of the lake’s temperate climate, organic fruits and vegetables are available year-round.

Breakfast is served either in your room or on the terrace, but the terrace is recommended, as this is a beautiful place to start your morning.

If you tire of lounging around the hotel, the staff can provide a number of options, from boat rentals, organising vineyard-visits and private tours of lemon groves.

Villa Fiordaliso

Gardone Riviera, Italy