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LUXOLOGIST LURE:
Grand Hotel Fasano is an iconic destination – an opulent five-star retreat in a paradisiacal setting on the shores of Italy’s Garda Lake, with the mountains as a backdrop. Originally built as a grand holiday estate for the Austrian imperial family and run for the last three generations by a single visionary family, the hotel blends old world elegance with modern developments that allows guests to experience a unique sensory journey – from the sights and sounds of the adjoining lake to the extensive wellness options and exquisite cuisine.
GUEST EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS:
§ Take a trip through history to one of the Austrian royal family’s favourite holiday estates.
§ Enjoy the spectacular Italian lakefront location with direct access to the lake from the suites.
§ Exceptional service: from the reception and concierge staff to the restaurant waiters, everyone is welcoming, highly professional, very experienced and genuinely intent on making your experience memorable for the right reasons. The staff also have a human side, unlike some five star hotels, improving the experience with charm and a healthy dose of wit.
§ Aveda Spa offers a wide choice of treatments with modern options set in an ancient Roman style. The facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools and whirlpool tubs, three saunas, two steam rooms, Kneipp therapy, chromotherapy showers and a glass-fronted gym offering lovely lake views.
§ Gastronomy: Grand Hotel Fasano has five restaurant venues, extensive even for a five-star hotel. Il Fagiano is the hotel’s signature restaurant and comes highly recommended. Chef Matteo Felter, a native of Lake Garda, presents seasonal and regional cuisine masterfully and the service is exceptional (the restaurant’s sommelier is one of the best we have experienced, the manager is very knowledgeable and the staff to guest ratio is also high). The menu offers international dishes combined with local ingredients and the sommelier will provide terrific wine pairing suggestions. We recommend for Antipasti the foie gras with rhubarb-ginger chutney and a delicate coffee sponge, for Primi Piatti, the room-temperature wholemeal spaghetti with tomatoes, cod, capers, anchovies and fermented garlic and for Secondi Piatti the pigeon on pumpkin and sage cream with black truffle on Groppello red wine sauce. This Secondi Piatti is an absolute must – with several pigeon cuts that are exceptionally tender while offering a delicious blend of flavours. The culinary offers throughout the hotel are impressive and we were also pleasantly surprised by the vast options available at breakfast, which would compete on range and quality with the best five-star hotels around the world (in fact Vanity Fair recommended breakfast at the Grand Hotel Fasano as one of the 15 best hotel breakfasts in Italy).
§ The centuries-old garden is home to rare botanical species and tropical plants, spread over 12,000 square-metres – providing a perfect place to unwind and relax.
§ Every year new renovations and innovations guarantee the highest standards and at every visit new luxury highlights to experience.
§ The hotel rents out mountain bikes, e-bikes, stand-up paddle boards, kayaks and boats.
INSIDER TIPS:
§ Stay in the newest suites of the hotel (open this year), which have modern French doors that open on to the gardens and lake.
§ Book dinners at the hotel’s signature restaurant Il Fagiano when you make your hotel booking.
§ Rent a boat, kayak or an SUP at reception to make the most of the proximity to the lake.
§ Visit Vittoriale degli Italiani, the former residence of Italian poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, decorated in an impressive melange of furnishings and home to lovely gardens.
§ Don’t miss the lush Heller Botanical Garden, harbouring plant species from all over the world.
§ Visit the beautiful town of Sirmione with its picturesque old town and Roman ruins.
§ Best times to visit: May through to September (and during one of the hotel’s events such as the End of Season Party on 3 November 2018, which will showcase culinary exhibitors and also offer a haute cuisine event with a four course menu).
§ Speak to the owner and hotel manager Olliver Mayr to discuss your specific requirements.
INSIDER SNAPS:
