Located on the hills, above Torri del Benaco at the edge of Lake Garda in Italy, Borgo Tre has opened its doors to welcome guests. Restored by local artisans, the18th-century farmhouse is surrounded by olive groves, cypresses, lemon trees and pine woods.

Borgo Tre offers 4,305 square feet (400 qm) of living space with six luxury apartment-style suites. With each suite over 860 square feet (80 qm), guests can expect their own private garden or terrace with both lake and countryside views, complete with a bedroom, living and dining area, kitchen, open fireplace and designer bathrooms with free-standing marble baths. Some suites can host up to six people. More accommodations are scheduled to open in 2025.

Although self-catered, breakfast is served in-suite with a complimentary breakfast box. Borgo Tre recommends many nearby restaurants to sample some of the region’s best dishes for daytime and evening dining.

The farmhouse retreat features a heated outdoor pool made from local granite. A mini nature spa is slated to open soon, complete with a relaxation area, yoga terrace, outdoor cabanas, cold plunge pool and a Finnish sauna.

Borgo Tre encourages guests to switch off and explore the surroundings on foot or the hotel’s e-bikes. Its vision of slow living and sustainability is about connecting to nature. It is the ideal place to dedicate time to health and well-being, with upcoming yoga retreats to be held in the grounds. Guests can enjoy wine tasting, Vespa road trips along the shores, hikes up to the 360-degree viewpoint of Monte Baldo and boat trips on the lake.

The closest airport to Borgo Tre is Verona, a 25-minute drive by car.

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Adrenaline junkies can expect a new mega attraction at the Gardaland theme park at Lake Garda in Northern Italy. After much speculation and rumors, it is now clear: it is a freefall tower! This spectacular new Gardaland attraction will go into operation in summer 2024.

Lake Garda offers many places that invite you to linger. Whether relaxing on one of the beaches, a trip to the picturesque coastal town of Malcesine or an active vacation including mountain biking and kitesurfing. Italy’s largest lake may not be an insider tip, but it is not one of the most popular destinations for nothing.

Another highlight that attracts millions of people every year is the Gardaland theme park. A new attraction is now awaiting adrenaline junkies there. According to the park, the “Drop & Twist Tower” is currently under construction and is due to go into operation in June.

Three rigs have delivered the 22-ton parts for the latest ride to Lake Garda. As soon as the purple tower is finished, 16 people will be able to take a seat. Gardaland Resort itself describes the drop tower as a “real thrill”.

As soon as you step aboard, you will hear the notes of a ritual chant and be surrounded by glittering symbols to decipher and extraordinary lighting effects… only when you have reached the highest point of the attraction, will you fall through dense clouds of smoke. As you repeatedly ascend and descend, and rotate around the axis of the tower, you will have a truly unique experience!. If you want to sit in the ride, you should be free from fear of heights: Because the tower is 25 meters (82 feet) high.

Gardaland theme park was opened in 1975. It is not only the oldest, but also the largest amusement park in Italy. The fun paradise covers around 33 hectares (88 acres) and attracts almost three million visitors every year.

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With the abundance of hotels and destinations, it’s easy to lose track. Would I prefer an active vacation with sauna in the evening? Or rather culinary experiences with friends? Do I dream of luxury and relaxation or am I looking for relaxation in nature? But which hotel and destination suits me best? We might have the answer. Tell us which vacation type you are – and discover the most beautiful hotels according to your wishes!

Sustainability

Slow travel as a lifestyle

Sustainability is not a trend for you, but a lifestyle. Do you value regional food, are you careful about what you consume, and do you want a hotel that is also conscious and climate-neutral in its approach to life? Here are two hotels that will make you happy. That’s a promise!

The Alpin & Relax Hotel Gerstl in the Val Venosta puts great value on regional food from the immediate surroundings. Whether in the infinity pool, the natural bathing pond or the sauna, the mountain view is always included. Recharge your batteries, feel tranquility and absolute liberty. At this place, where familiar hospitality, modern style, South Tyrolean tradition and strong holiday emotions are unified, the beauty of life is put in the center of attention, every day.

Montivas Lodge in Livigno is built entirely from ecologically valuable materials. In addition to a completely sustainable energy concept, a first-class organic breakfast awaits you in the morning. At Montivas Lodge ethics meets aesthetics. The building was built exclusively using environmentally friendly materials to make your sustainable holiday and the words go for green a reality.

Wellness

Warm and cozy

Every visit to the sauna is relaxation for you. Nothing relaxes you more in the winter months than pleasant scents and cozy warmth? Then off you go to the Garberhof in South Tyrol. A unique spa with a large pool area and sauna worlds awaits you here. The special thing: Italy’s largest Hamam, which takes you to a world of ethereal scents and a special cleansing ritual. Surrounded by sunny orchards, the hotel merges with the scenic beauty of South Tyrol. It’s an oasis of tranquility where you will find the ideal conditions to experience a feeling of total freedom.

The Cyprianerhof in the Dolomites of South Tyrol is a wonderful place to unwind. Here you can not only look forward to the breathtaking panorama of the Rosengarten, but also to the brand new Similde Spa. Jump into the pool with Dolomite water, enjoy an infusion in the glass sauna or a bubble bath in the whirlpool – mountain view included. The close connection to nature is reflected in the hotel. The impressive Catinaccio/Rosengarten rises impressively in front of the 5-star hotel. It is a sight that inspires the eyes and touches the soul.

Luxury

No wishes remain unfulfilled

No infinity pool, no you. When you go on vacation, it may – no, must – be unique and luxurious. True luxury can be experienced at the five-star Hotel Fanes in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. Whether in the sky pool or in the private whirlpool: Here you relax at the highest level. The hotel in Alta Badia, in the heart of the Dolomites, lies in the picturesque scenery of the village of San Cassiano. It is a charming and elegant destination where you breathe a centuries-old art of welcoming. A precious place for regeneration and special attentions.

Alternatively, head to Lake Garda: The Quellenhof Luxury Resort Lazise awaits you with an excellent pool and wellness paradise on 21,000 square feet. You can sleep in luxurious suites and glamorous private villas. It’s Dolce Vita pure at Lake Garda. Surrounded by olive trees, above the small medieval village of Lazise and only a few minutes away from the extensive southeast shore of Lake Garda.

Design

Here beats the aesthetic heart

You love design and innovative ideas. When choosing your hotel, aesthetics also play a role. The more inspiring, the better. The Parkhotel Holzner in South Tyrol is sure to make your design heart leap for joy. Let yourself be captivated by the charm of the Gründerzeit and discover modern elements in the midst of history. Built in 1908, the hotel is located 4,000 feet above sea level on Ritten Mountain, and offers a stunning view of pastures and forests, lovely hills, and rugged mountain peaks. It is an alpine refuge surrounded by fresh mountain air and ancient giant trees. All that only a 15-minutes cable-car ride from the city center of Bolzano.

Another tip: Hotel Muchele near Merano. 40 modern suites and excellent food await you. Wine lovers, architecture fans and free-spirited souls love the easy-going atmosphere that prevails here. Best of all, if you like the Moroso furnishings, you can buy a few pieces right away. A hotel as a showroom, so to speak. If that’s not something for design lovers. Hotel Muchele is part of the Vinum Hotels South Tyrol, top vacation addresses for everyone who wants to experience wine culture up close.

Water

Time out by the lake

Whenever you sit by the water, you are happy. A vacation without sea or lake – hardly imaginable! Then off to Lake Garda to the five-star luxury hotel EALA in Limone sul Garda. This exclusive 5-Star L hotel on Lake Garda is inspired by and owes its name to a wonderful animal that has always lived on the shores of Lake Garda: the swan, eala in Celtic. Enjoy the view in the spa or while swimming in the infinity pool. If you prefer to jump directly into the lake, a private beach area on the lakeside awaits you. In the evening, enjoy dinner in one of the two restaurants – with a view of the lake, of course.

A bit further north, near Bolzano, the Hotel Seeleiten welcomes you to Lake Caldaro. Two lake accesses including a sunbathing lawn and beach bar ensure wonderful days on the water. Directly in front of the hotel on Lake Caldaro there is a wonderful, spacious Mediterranean park with numerous secluded retreats that invite you to relax and sunbathe. The heated natural swimming pool in the green holiday oasis provides pleasant refreshment in between. You can also go out on a pedal boat or rowing boat, or on one of the hotel’s own stand-up paddles.

Wine & Dine

La Dolce Vita

For this vacation type we travel a bit further south. Vacation means for you: Dolce Vita! You want to enjoy the days, be pampered with culinary delights and just enjoy. Then you should definitely go to the Boutique Hotel Castello di Semivicoli in Abruzzo. A place that is perfect for those seeking peace and quiet and wine lovers. There are only eleven individual, charming rooms. During the day the main thing here is to enjoy life – with good food and even better wine. Visit the Masciarelli winery estate and cellar or, during the grape harvest, watch and appreciate the development of their wines, from the vineyards to your table, through a constant and patient work. If you want to enjoy the flavors of Abruzzo, they organize dedicated cooking classes. For explorers they provide bike rental and organize excursions and guided tours.

If you prefer a livelier atmosphere, you can stay at one of the five hotels in the Lungarno Collection. Whether in Florence or Rome, here you can enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city and a luxury hotel in one. From romantic spaces to an eclectic taste of the contemporary, from classic Italian style to a new concept of bespoke hospitality, each hotel in this exquisite collection boasts a unique personality.

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Lake Garda – the largest lake in Italy is a popular holiday location. Divided right in the middle between the Veneto and the Lombardia regions, this lake offers so much. It is hard to choose where to go.

On the North-eastern side of Lake Garda, in the Veneto region, a perfect spot makes your dreams come true. The little town of Malcesine pretty much satisfies all the demands one can have from a holiday: tasty food, great wine, interesting boutiques, relaxation, yet also sportive adventures, excursions, entertainment and culture. Basically, an all-round Italian experience.

Malcesine, a Borgo Bandiera Arancione

Malcesine is a little town curled up between Lake Garda and the slope of Monte Baldo. Thanks to its strategic position and special shape, Malcesine is one of the beloved treasures of Lake Garda. Characterized by a majestic rocky spur arising from the Lake,  it stretches along Via Gardesana Orientale. The panoramic road flows alongside the shores of the Lake, hugging it from side to side.

In Malcesine, the combination of sparkling water and the verdant side of the mountain, standing out immediately above the town, gifts abundance of natural beauties. Moreover, its history and influences from the neighbor regions of Lombardy and Trentino Alto Adige enrich the town of peculiar cultural heritage. Although Malcesine is small in size, it offers a stunning scenario for sport adventures, educational discoveries and relaxing idleness. Here, a visit is worth all year long.

To reward the quality of this place, Malcesine has also been declared “Borgo Bandiera Arancione” by the Touring Club Italiano. It recognizes the excellence of Malcesine’s tourism services and the high value of its tourism offers, attentive to sustainable development, local handicraft, great hospitality and promotion of local resources.

Old Town Malcesine

Malcesine has been occupied since circa 1500 BC, when the Libui settled down there. Over the centuries it became home for several different populations, such as Etruscans, Romans, Ostrogoths and Langobards. From 1277 the ruling family of Verona, the Scaliger, was in charge of the town, losing the power when the Visconti of Milan conquered part of the Lake in 1387. Afterwards, Malcesine got conquered by the Republic of Venice in 1405, which controlled the territory until the rise of Napoleon, in 1797. Finally, in 1815 Malcesine, as the entire Veneto region, passed under the control of the Austrian–Hungarian Empire until 1866, when the Risorgimento’s uprisings led to Italian unification.

Today, Malcesine still preserves the characteristics of its Medieval times, with small squares, narrow streets, brick arches and small old colorful houses attached to one another. The ground floors of the ancient houses have been turned into handicraft shops, ateliers, bistros and local restaurants, unveiling, once in a while, vegetable gardens and terraces with perfumed olive trees. The old town is teemed with thousands of tourists every day, especially during the warm months, from May to September; they make up a lively and joyful atmosphere.

The essence of the history merging with the present is tangible in two buildings of the Old Town. The first one is today’s town hall. Palazzo dei Capitani was built during the Scaliger’s dominance, with the purpose of being the venue of their governance. In 1902 it was declared national monument since it is still able to evoke its ancient splendor. The venue presents the Venetian gothic style, due to renovations during the Venetian sovereignty. Today it is also used as cultural venue, hosting visitors, offering concerts and public events.

The Castle

The second building needs a paragraph on its own, due to its physical prominence over the town, yet also because of its architecture and the permanent exhibitions it accommodates. Castello Scaligero, built firstly by the Langobards, destroyed, rebuilt and eventually renovated by the Scaliger Family, which gave the castle the medieval shape it still preserves today. The castle is a stunning venue with courtyards, a hidden balcony, fortifications and a tower rising 230 feet above the lake. There are several spots where the lake and the mountains can be admired in their perfect harmony. Even eminent personalities, such as the writer Goethe and the painter Klimt, fell in love with the castle. They praised its colors and charming atmosphere in their works of art.

Castello Scaligero offers events, concerts and also several permanent exhibitions. There is the “Sala Goethe” with documents and anecdotes of Goethe’s travel around Italy. Then, on the ground floor of the Scaliger’s Residence you can find the “Museum of Fishing, lake activities and of Galere Veneziane”. Yet, the real gem of the castle is found in the old “Casermetta”. There, the Natural History Museum of Baldo and Garda has been renovated in 2008, becoming an interesting and truly amusing interactive museum. If you love Lake Garda, this Museum is a must-see. It is a fantastic place to learn about the history, morphology, flora and fauna of the area. 

After the visit, you will appreciate the lake even more. The nine rooms of the Museum lead you on a path from the bottom of the Lake Garda, to the peak of Monte Baldo, discovering animals, touching fish, hearing the noises of vegetation and smelling the scents of the two places. The Museum is the perfect combination between education and entertainment.

Lake Garda

A lake side promenade lets you walk alongside Garda shore for miles, passing by bars, cafés and rocky beaches of different sizes. Find your niche and jump in the tempting water of the lake. From June to September the average temperature of the water is 71 F – a pretty suitable temperature for comfortable swimming. The water is clean and crystal clear with thousands nuances of blue. The weather is ideal. Lake Garda, in fact, is always accompanied by several different winds, like the Peler from north to south, or the Ora, favored by windsurfers. On the shore, the climate is mild, with a constant breeze driving away mugginess.

Two islands appear in the middle of the lake: The Island of Olive Trees and The Island of Dreams. The former one has a wild vegetation and is famous for scuba divers seeking underwater caves and endemic species of fish. The second one, with a truly evocative name, can be reached by foot when the water of the lake is shallow. This Island is also a well-known spot for scuba divers, since a shipwreck lies nearby, on the bottom of the lake – a real amusement-park for scuba divers.

Monte Baldo

From the bottom of Lake Garda emerges a steep mountain range reaching with a leap peaks of over 7200 feet. This is Monte Baldo, peeking out over Malcesine with all its massive presence. It is said that Monte Baldo is the “garden of Europe”. In fact, thanks to the influences of the underneath lake, the climate is favorable for both the Mediterranean and Middle-European landscapes. This provides a great variety of flowers, plants and trees. The fauna of Monte Baldo is abundant as well. Animals like foxes, marmots, deer, chamois, badgers and rarely even some – harmless – bears, live between 200 and 6500 feet of altitude.

Monte Baldo is optimal for winter sports, such as snowboarding and skiing, yet, it also offers great opportunities in summer. You can hike the slope up to the peak or you can use the funicular railway to reach the top effortless, enjoying the all-round view of the entire lake, from Lombardy to the northernmost shore of Trentino Alto Adige. Ready to try out an extreme sport? You’re in the right spot. Paragliding provides you with a breath-taking way to sightsee Malcesine from above.

Water, weather, mountains, sports, culture, food… choose one or choose all reasons to come and visit Malcesine.

Photos: Visit Veneto

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