Eden Villa West

A luxury villa to rent by Lake Garda, Italy

A striking, modern villa that follows the contours of the hillside above beautiful Lake Garda, with its own spa, summer house and panoramic outdoor pool.

Garda is the largest of the Italian lakes and for many the most beautiful. Eden Villa West is one of five private villas on the park-like Villa Eden Luxury Resort, which overlooks the lake above the charming town of Gardone Riviera.

Gardone hit its peak in the 19th century when its opulent villas and extravagant gardens made it one of the most prestigious corners of Lake Garda. Today the glitterati may have moved elsewhere, but the historic centre and café-lined lakefront are still lovely to explore. It’s also far more peaceful than tourist-heavy hotspots like Sirmione or Malcesine.

An hour of so uphill from Gardone is the pretty mountain village of San Michele, from where you can pick up a number of panoramic walking trails. For more serious walking, the armour-plated peaks of the Dolomites are also within striking distance, as are several of the region’s top vineyards, including Soave, Bardolino and Valpolicella.

The villa itself was designed by acclaimed architect David Chipperfield and is built over three storeys that follow the contours of the hillside. The inspiration comes from the traditional buildings used to grow lemons on Garda’s terraced slopes in the 19th century, though now it’s olive groves and cypress trees that shelter the villa and bring life to the estate.

Like with the old lemonaries, the villa is fronted on two floors by long terraces and shady pergolas, which offer ample space to soak up the views while protected from the sun. These wonderful viewing decks are directly accessed from the living areas and bedrooms, which are all situated at the front of the house and boast floor-to-ceiling windows.

The lowest level of the property contains the wine cellar and three of the four bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. The next floor up, which is really the ground floor due to the terraced nature of the design, contains the main entrance, a well-equipped kitchen and a stylish dining area.

The first floor contains the sauna and spa area and has direct access to a spacious outdoor terrace and a beautiful private pool that offers mesmerising views of Lake Garda.

The fourth en-suite bedroom is in a separate summer house, which has its own entrance, terrace and open-plan kitchen and living room.

Aside from great style and an enviable location, the emphasis here is on sophisticated service. Private chefs and butlers can easily be arranged, and villa guests can make use of the resort’s gourmet restaurant and top-of-the-range spa. Two excellent golf courses are close at hand, and the delights of Lake Garda are just begging to be explored.