Sitting atop a hill on a 40-acre private park, the Boutique Hotel Villa Sostaga has panoramic views of Lake Garda and a romantic setting that's ideal for couples. The building has a homey yet elegant atmosphere and dates back to the 1800s, when Count Giuseppe Feltrinelli built the mansion as a hunting lodge. It was later converted into a summer residence, where the noble vacationed. Bought by the Seresina family and converted into a hotel in 2005, it still maintains an upscale residential quality. Guests can often find the hotel dog, Romeo, lounging in the sun on the lush grounds that include a clean pool with lounge chairs. The hotel's rich history is mixed into its interior design scheme, with doors and window frames trimmed in blue paint and antiques such as a black piano and a display case with old tea pots.

The Boutique Hotel Villa Sostaga is isolated from the nearby town Gargnano, which is a 15-minute drive away on the west shore of Lake Garda. A car is necessary for exploring the area. The closest restaurant, Ristorante Fornico, is 23 minutes by car and the informal Giallo Limone beach bar takes 17 minutes. The Bogliaco Golf Resort takes just over 20 minutes to reach, as does Caldana International Tours, who operate tours of the town. Traveling by car to Brescia takes a little over an hour. Getting to and from the airport takes 90 minutes.

Each soundproofed room at the Boutique Hotel Villa Sostaga has a distinct design, with classic furnishings and the type of home-like decor frequently found in B&Bs. Many have wood floors, rich rugs, and antiques, though the bedspreads in certain rooms may strike some as too old-fashioned and not upscale. All rooms have gorgeous views of the lake or park and include clean bathrooms with modern fixtures and bidets. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, and in some cases, balconies. Fireplaces and separate living rooms are also available in some rooms.

Guests at the Boutique Hotel Villa Sostaga can use the on-site spa's blue-tiled Turkish bath and the tanning room for free. Massages and other treatments are also available. A free breakfast is served on the on-site restaurant's Mediterranean-style tiled roof terrace with lovely white curtains that looks out over the lake --there's also an elegant indoor section with large windows and crystal chandeliers. Guests can lounge between meals in the Clarabella saloon, which has yellow walls and draperies, red velvet chairs, and antique touches.