The Villa Sofia is ideally placed between the busier, lakeside Gardone Riviera (with promenade, lakeside cafes, upmarket clothing shops and hotels), and the charming higher village of Gardone Sopra (with restaurants, ice-cream shop, and d'Annunzio's house). It's a ten minute walk downhill to the water and boats, or five steep uphill minutes to the village. The hotel is a calm oasis, with gardens and swimming pool. It's not, though, a full-service hotel - dinner, massages etc, are available at its lakeside sister hotel, the Savoy Palace. We enjoyed the breakfasts greatly, eating at tables in the garden. All the staff were very polite, helpful, and multi-lingual.