This neo-Gothic estate on the western banks of Lake Garda once played host to the Italian dictator Mussolini, who enjoyed bathing in the oversized marble bathtub. Commissioned by the Feltrinelli family in 1892 by the Feltrinelli family, the pastel-colored villa is now a luxury hotel of a different caliber. Regulars include Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, and José Carreras, who all enjoy the peace and privacy at this 7-acre property, which wants its guests to feel like they are not at a hotel, but at a home. The 21 rooms and suites are not lacking in any respect, with wood-carved ceilings, frescos, lamps made of Murano glass, star-shaped windows, and a private boat bridge. The adjacent park has an herb garden with more than 150 different plants, all used by the gourmet kitchen. Guests can dine wherever they’d like: pasta at the pool, fish in the garden, breakfast in the gazebo? It’s all possible here.
