“High wrought-iron gates protect this lovely 19th-century villa from the trippers who flock to car-free, postcard-pretty Sirmione. The house has a glorious setting in large lakeside gardens, a neoclassical porticoed-façade and an interior, appealing for its quirky, latter-day charm. With parquet in the ‘30s-style bedrooms and marble floors, frescoes and antiques downstairs, little seems to have changed over the decades. Unfortunately this includes the plumbing, which produces boiling or icy water on a whim. Bonuses include a private swimming jetty and gorgeous pool in a sunny spot.”
