Built in 1892, the villa has recently been fully restored and modernised while preserving its original character, and now serves as a luxury boutique hotel with the atmosphere of a private home and wonderful views over the lake and the mountains of northern Italy.

The rooms and suites are divided between the main villa and four guesthouses in the grounds. Those in the main villa have a more formal style while those in the park buildings are more rustic. Each room is individually designed and decorated and comes with features such as handcrafted Venetian glass bedside lamps and original artworks. Bathrooms feature heated marble floors, deluge showers and deep, cast iron bathtubs.

As with the guestrooms, the villa's public spaces combine antique elegance with modern comforts. The library, for example, doubles as a home cinema where guests can watch films on a large plasma screen in the evenings.

Surrounding the villa are eight acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with an olive grove, a tiered lemon garden and a swimming pool. Paths, lit with lanterns by night, lead to the croquet lawn and the individual guesthouses.

Villa Feltrinelli's excellent restaurant focuses on local produce and has a wine cellar containing some of Italy's best vintages. Guests can order their meals at any time and be served anywhere: lakeside, poolside, in the dining room or in the garden. The bar, an octagonal room with floor-to-ceiling windows, serves cocktails in vintage 1950s Italian glasses.