Brescia

Romantic ivy-covered villa near Milan with a world class spa, and lounge dedicated to reading and experiencing culinary pleasures. — Jetsetter

The Secret Garden is a B&B with a boutique feel. — Lonely Planet

Looking every bit the stately, historic, and luxurious hotel it is, the 75-room Grand Hotel Fasano impresses from arrival. — Oyster

A wellness haven on a picture-perfect peninsula surrounded by Lake Garda, including breakfast. — Jetsetter

One of Sirmione’s oldest hotels, dating to 1888, Catullo (named for the Roman poet who lived in the area) occupies a prime lakeside location and has a lovely garden and smart, contemporary rooms. — Lonely Planet

The sheer luxury of the lakeside setting, the charming décor of the older rooms, and the high professionalism of its staff. — Fodor's

A few kilometres west of Lake Garda, this palace-resort occupies a former country estate, with finely restored palazzo, and combines its own golf course with a luxury spa escape. — Insight Guides

This pink-and-white lakeside villa is now a fine restaurant, but it also has seven tastefully furnished rooms, some overlooking the lake. — Fodor's

Locanda Agli Angeli, a rambling house no more than a five-minute stroll from Il Vittoriale, has a variety of rooms, some with exposed-timber ceilings and air-con. — Lonely Planet

The three-pearl Hotel Monte Baldo is a charming family-run property that's peacefully located on the shore of Lake Garda. — Oyster

Loose yourself amid woodlands and wildflowers in the picturesque hamlet of San Michele. — Lonely Planet

The three-and-a-half-pearl Hotel Savoy Palace has sat along Lake Garda’s western shore for over a century, and counts among its guests Winston Churchill and the kings of Italy. — Oyster

With manicured grounds and pretty balconies looking out over the water, boutique hotel BellaRiva is a classic Italian house, with pared-down decor and turn-of-the-century character. — Mr & Mrs Smith

A narrow winding road takes you from town to this imposing villa, which surveys the valley and the lake below it. — Fodor's

This medium-sized resort literally sits upon Lake Garda, on the peninsula of Sirmio and in the charming center of the town of Sirmione. — Oyster

Scandinavian slat beds, matching floral draperies and wall coverings, and built-in white furniture impart a homey feel that, along with the luxurious thermal spa, keeps many guests returning. — Fodor's

The Grand Hotel Terme is an upscale spa-oriented property with an enviable waterfront location on Lake Garda's Sirmione peninsula. — Oyster