Il Giardino di Sara, Arco, Italy

This charming garden cottage, halfway between Arco and Riva del Garda, makes a relaxing holiday home. The cottage sleeps up to 6 people and is ideal for a family or friends who want to combine all the activities available in this area with the culture, history and ‘la dolce vita’ of Riva del Garda.

Set in its own private and shared gardens, the cottage encourages indoor/outdoor living. Nearly every room opens directly onto the terrace that surrounds the house. Outside the cottage is a raised terrace, which serves as an outdoor dining room, with stunning mountain views. It is appointed with a table for 6 people and a brick BBQ.

Inside, through sliding glass doors, there is an airy and sleek open-plan living area. With white walls and exposed wooden beams throughout, the decor is modern and chic. The living room is furnished with a contemporary sofa, a flat-screen TV, a smaller dining table and a smart, fitted kitchen. The kitchen is equipped with a cooker hob, microwave, dishwasher, Moka coffee machine, fridge/freezer and a toaster.

Sleeping
Bedroom 1: The attractive master bedroom has a double bed, extensive storage, a laptop-friendly workspace and French windows out to the gardens.
Bedroom 2: A cosy room with a single bed and a 2nd pull-out single bed. In this room too there is a glass door out to the garden.
Extra: The sofa in the living room converts into a comfortable double bed.

Bathroom
The tiled bathroom features a shower, basin, bidet, washing machine and WC.

Additional
• Free Wi-Fi • Outside seating and dining • BBQ • Digital TV • Balcony • Shared and private fenced gardens • Hair dryer • Smoke & CO detectors • Private outdoor parking - car recommended • Child-friendly • Suitable for elderly guests • Wheelchair access • Washing Machine • Pets allowed

Location
The house is just 6 minutes from the centre of Riva del Garda, which is a lovely town, steeped in history, with charming cobbled streets and vibrant piazzas. Here travellers can immerse themselves in the local culture, visit historic landmarks such as the Apponale Tower, and browse through quaint boutiques and artisanal shops. The lakeside promenade offers wonderful views out over Lake Garda. For a closer look take a ferry from the port in Piazza Catena (9 minutes). Regular boat services can take you all over the lake.

The town of Arco (6 minutes drive), is the rock-climbing centre of Italy, so the town has several climbing schools. Arco’s medieval streets, beneath the 12th-Century castle are fascinating. The town has many fine buildings and restaurants to suit all budgets.

For self-catering, Arco’s weekly market (Tuesday mornings) and Riva del Garda’s market (Wednesday morning) are the best places to find the freshest local produce. Alternatively, there are supermarkets and other grocery stores nearby.

For adventures on the lake, the resort of Torbole (10 minutes) is known as an international hub for windsurfers. There are several schools in the town. Visitors can also kayak and paddleboard nearby. The beach is a lovely place to relax and enjoy the peace of Lake Garda. Away from the water, there are many fine hiking routes. The panoramic Sentiero Busatte Tempesta (15 minutes) is a stunning hike on the eastern shores of the lake.

The nearest international airport is Valerio Catullo, Verona, a 1 hour, 10-minute drive.