Gardone Riviera What Mallorca is to Germans, Lake Garda is to Munich residents on a smaller scale: a blooming, pulsating, quickly accessible and climatically very attractive retreat. At least vehicles with Munich or Bavarian license plates honk at me without exception when I stop at a yellow traffic light.
In any case, I’m happy to be enjoying the late autumn with pleasant temperatures of around 20 degrees on Italy’s largest lake. A little boy who is eating his lime ice cream next to me on the shore in Gardone Riviera says to his father: “Look, this is not a lake at all, this is a sea.” blue tides seem huge to me too.
I am traveling to the northwest end of Lake Garda, to the Riviera dei Limoni. It is said that this is probably the most beautiful section of the lake. Lemon, orange and cypress trees dominate the landscape. The numerous olive trees were imported from Puglia and complete the Mediterranean fauna.
During my journey, I immerse myself in the wild and romantic scenery of the region. One Belle Epoque villa is lined up next to the other. The old walls of various castles hide the historical secrets of times long past. An architectural paradise.
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Villa Eden: futuristic unique pieces on Lake Garda
My trip takes me to the Villa Eden Resort. That sounds like a romantic early evening movie and, on closer inspection, even turns out to be a terrific blockbuster. If you use the coordinates 45 ° 37’30. Enter 1 ”N 10 ° 33’23.0“ E, then you land directly on the helicopter landing pad, sorry, on two landing pads of the Villa Eden Luxury Resort. In the garden of Eden, so to speak.
Star architect Matteo Thun designed the clubhouse, which he staged transparently with a large number of glass mosaics.
(Photo: Eden Reserve, Hotel & Villas)
Two separate landing sites show: man or woman from all over the world are flying in. Stars and starlets as well as top managers are looking for exactly what I hope for: space, privacy and time to relax in the pleasant Mediterranean climate. This time I’m traveling in the classic way by car after I’m at Bergamo airport. After a 45-minute drive, including a few minutes of exciting, very tight serpentines, I leave the Italian coastal town of Gardone Riviera and the lakeshore behind me.
18 very futuristic-looking accommodations in the middle of lush green mountain groves greet me. The handwriting of renowned star architects can be clearly felt: Matteo Thun, David Chipperfield, Richard Meier and Marc Mark from ATP Sphere have designed every single accommodation in the five-star boutique hotel individually and artistically. The well-known Swiss garden architect Enzo Enea completed the unique hotel concept with a 78,000 square meter park landscape. Thanks to the mild climate, the cypress trees are in full splendor during my stay in October and also beautify the Mediterranean ambience. Uniquely grandiose. These two words best describe what my eyes see.
The focus of the property is the unmistakable clubhouse designed by Matteo Thun. Transparency was his great concern, which he skilfully stages architecturally with a multitude of glass mosaics. Light floors, large windows and open rooms always reveal a view of Lake Garda in the valley and the adjoining garden.
Carsten K. Rath explores winter gardens on Lake Garda – The Villa Eden Luxury Resort
Privacy and space characterize every fiber of the furnishings: the suites and villas inspire with their own pools, steam baths, saunas and fitness areas. Large terraces offer direct access to the beautiful garden and a magnificent view of Lake Garda. Own, modern kitchens and huge barbecues ensure that as a guest I don’t even have to leave my accommodation to eat. A private chef comes by on request to prepare a delicious menu right in your own four walls – a great service.
So I never have to queue when visiting the fine dining restaurant La Terrazza, but I recommend at least one visit. The restaurant is also an expression of Italian lightness with an affinity for art and is therefore perfectly embedded in the resort concept.
Cross-border leadership style
General Manager Oliver Gerber is a Swiss citizen who perfectly reflects the Italian culture and language and acts as a cross-border hotelier. In summer he takes care of the guests on Lake Garda. In winter you can meet him in “Chalet N” in Arlberg. I feel the beneficial freshness in the tour. The staff are courteous and warm to help whenever I need them. The whole team feels just as comfortable as the guests.
Gerber manages the tension between the two very different houses excellently. Some of the employees know both hotels because they also change seasonally. The general manager worked for the Four Seasons group in Milan for 15 years and of course speaks fluent Italian. Villa Eden and Chalet N are part of the portfolio of the entrepreneur René Benko, who has created a truly artistic Mediterranean gem here. The Austrian founded Signa Holding and owns well-known corporate groups such as Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof and the KaDeWe Group, as well as the luxury hotel Bauer in Venice and the Hyatt in Vienna.
The well-known Swiss garden architect Enzo Enea completed the unique hotel concept with a 78,000 square meter park landscape.
(Photo: Eden Reserve, Hotel & Villas)
Resorts like Villa Eden are probably benefiting from the pandemic: German holidaymakers in particular, including myself, currently prefer to travel to nearby destinations rather than taking long flights to the Maldives, for example. The mild end-of-year climate predestines this place for a winter break. For the first time, three villas in the resort will also open in winter.
Culinary delights on Lake Garda
You have to see the Riviera dei Limoni, feel the warm rays of the sun on your skin and taste the delicacies of the lake. Even if you will find it difficult to leave your private villa: The Riviera on Lake Garda is known for its diverse cuisine. My favorite dish: ingenious dumpling with crispy fried chicken in the QB DuePonteZero restaurant in Salo, the small town right next to Gardone Riviera. Of course, the menu sounds a lot sexier in Italian: ravioli di pasta fresca, farcito con pollo arrosto.
The Veronese cuisine is very heavy on carbohydrates – perfect for every athlete. Be sure to try an amarone risotto and sard in saor, marinated sardines. Both dishes are among the region’s must-eats. The best way to explore the fine wines from the vineyards of Lake Garda is during a wine tasting. The selection is just too big if you haven’t found your favorite yet.
Seaside views: a boat tour on Lake Garda
The hotel team organizes tours with the hotel’s own Frauscher boat.
(Photo: Carsten K. Rath)
I love changing perspectives and exploring a place from different angles. A boat tour on Lake Garda is an absolute must. The team at the Villa Eden Resort will organize a tour with one of the hotel’s Frauscher boats. Isola del Garda, the largest island on Lake Garda, is well worth a visit. Today the family of the Counts Cavezza live there. Previously, Prince Scipio converted a villa into his Venetian-style palace.
Discover the Villa Laurin, now an important hotel, as soon as you leave Gardone Riviera. It is in the neighboring village. The architect Ulisse Stacchini also designed the Milan train station, the striking Art Nouveau style of the house immediately catches the eye. The villa originally served as Mussolini’s foreign ministry. Today you can stay here or visit the restaurant.
The beautiful peninsula lies at the foot of the Monte Baldo summit between Garda and Torri del Benaco.
(Photo: Carsten K. Rath)
Probably the most romantic point that I discover on my boat trip is the Punta San Vigilio. This beautiful peninsula protrudes furthest into Lake Garda after the popular Sirmione peninsula and is located at the foot of the Monte Baldo summit between Garda and Torri del Benaco. The Hotel Locanda San Vigilio is enthroned in this beautiful place and is certainly the perfect hideaway for time together as a couple. In summer there is no electric light, only the moonlight and a few candles show the way at night.
You can also pass the most beautiful castle on Lake Garda by boat: Castello Scaligero, Sirmione Castle. It once belonged to the della Scala family, today it is a popular destination and one of the best preserved castles on Lake Garda.
City visit: Gardone Riviera
Gardone Riviera, the place in which the Villa Eden is located, has its very own flair. A city walk is worth it. The magnificent villas in the city show to this day: The rich and famous feel more than at home here. Originally the place was divided into the elegant hotel settlement on the lake and the original village center. If you want to delve deeper into Gardone’s cultural heritage then visit the Vittoriale degli Italiani and explore the legacy of national poet Gabriele d’Annunzio.
The famous Villa Feltrinelli is just a stone’s throw away from Villa Eden. The imposing castle is probably one of the smallest grand hotels in the world and a feast for the eyes from the outside.
Conclusion: Noblesse and solitude in the villa town
The resort is an absolute recommendation for couples and families.
(Photo: Eden Reserve, Hotel & Villas)
The Villa Eden Resort is a four generation place. Due to its architecture and the wide range of activities that are possible there (golf, wellness, mountain biking), the resort is an absolute recommendation for couples and families. Here you will spend real quality time together. The resort’s pricing policy is as varied as the accommodations: apartments are available from 400 euros. You can then invest up to five-digit amounts for a private villa in a secluded location. The professional catering service for the apartments and villas is the olive in your Mediterranean martini cocktail.
About the author: As a former grand hotelier and operator of a travel platform, Carsten K. Rath is a globetrotter by profession. He travels to all of the hotels he writes about for the Handelsblatt on his own account. Rath is the source of ideas for the new ranking “The 101 Best Hotels in Germany”, of which the Handelsblatt is one of the partners.
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