We visited this place in the end of September, when the vineyards were full of golden light and Lago di Garda was relaxing from the crowds, that usually come visit in summer.
Reaching Corte Palazzina means: By the time the iron gates swing open almost silently you enter a place of its own. The traffic of Lake Garda’s waterfront drops away, replaced by cicadas, the soft clatter of terracotta underfoot, and the gentle greeting of two women in embroidered dresses. One of them is Angelica, who does not so much manage this property as inhabit it. The embroidery on her trousers was stitched by her mother and this helps understand the whole atmosphere. It’s creative, full of ideas and more of a family and friends affair.
There is definitely no hotel category for L’ Angelica Corte Palazzina. It was born as a 19th-century agricultural farmhouse, once belonging to an aristocratic family who entrusted it to sharecroppers. Between the rural home, stables, and barns surrounded by three hectares of land, life followed the rhythm of the seasons.
Thanks to the mild and sunny climate of the Gulf of Salò, this was one of the first farmhouses on Lake Garda dedicated to olive cultivation and olive oil production.
With her experience in hospitality, Angelica chose to bring new life to this historic farmhouse, founding L’Angelica Corte Palazzina: a place where tradition meets the art of Italian living and the philosophy of Slow Life.
For those, especially young parents with one or two children, looking for exactly this kind of bohemian apartment-style hotel near the lake, feel free to scroll down directly to the reservation link. Enjoy your stay!
The house
For those still interested in some additional information, here you are.
The property sits 150 meters from Lake Garda’s western shore, overlooking the gentle half-moon of the Salò bay. The approach winds upward through olive trees and narrow curves before arriving in a garden. The first impression is not of design but of intention: red deck chairs collected from the seaside town of Forte dei Marmi (Angelica is a fan!), a charming pool beside a bar offering snacks rather than signatures, a corner garden where herbs and lettuces grow for guests to pick freely.
The apartments
At the moment, there are a total of eight apartments and two guest rooms, each positioned to face the water. Ground-floor units spill onto private terraces furnished with nice tables for Aperitivi or family dinners sourced from the local market. Upstairs, apartments include children’s rooms with antique beds. Many fabrics are designed by the family itself; chairs don’t match, but they belong.
Sizes of the apartments at L’ Angelica Corte Palazzina range from 53 to 95 square meters, which is a dream and highly appreciated. We loved every detail. Every apartment has a kitchenette, a dining area, and enough autonomy that guests may choose not to eat out. Coffee maker, simple dishes, refrigerator, cutlery, a few pots and pans, everything is there.
Breakfast
Most guests make their way upstairs in the morning to the dining room, where breakfast is served with great enthusiasm. It is less a buffet than a family table in extended form: eggs cooked to order, fresh fruit from the farms nearby, smoked salmon, tomatoes layered with mozzarella, homemade cakes of course (after all, we are in Italia!). The pace is unhurried. Nothing appears designed for effect; it looks instead as though it has always been there. Btw: We loved the pink espresso cups. Wonderful.
Dinner
Angelica sees the property as a place of exchange, not escape. In the evenings, guests can join cooking sessions – not demonstrations as seen in 5-star hotels, but communal efforts led by a local mother who rolls gnocchi with the authority of someone who has done so for decades. Pumpkin gnocchi, Tortellini, simple sauces. Requests for a private dinner can be accommodated if arranged in advance, though many guests venture into the surrounding area with a curated list of restaurants in San Felice and Salò.
Wine tastings are often arranged at Cascina Belmonte, a nearby vineyard known to the family. The Galeazzis speak about these excursions not as add-ons but as part of understanding where they live.
The idea
The project is more than an accommodation. Angelica intends for Corte Palazzina to operate year-round, not simply as a summer retreat but as a place to encounter the quieter side of Lake Garda (which does exist!). Retreats focused on nutrition, yoga, sport, arts and local history are planned. Horseback rides, painting classes, guided hikes along lesser-known lake paths, massages, and culinary excursions can already be booked.
The family behind Corte Palazzina is deeply connected to the region and speak about it as an ecosystem rather than a destination: a place shaped by centuries of agriculture, artisanship and everyday life.
Ideal for
While summer draws the crowds, autumn and winter may reveal Lake Garda more truthfully. Temperatures often reach 20 degrees Celsius during the day. Cyclists (especially gravel and mountain bikers) ride into the hills, where the air is clear and still. Families find value in the apartment model: the freedom to cook, to stay longer.
Rates
Rooms from 180 euros, apartments from 250 (2-bedrooms) and 330 euros (3 bedrooms).
Booking & Contacts
Angelica Corte Palazzina
Via Zette, 11
25087 Salò BS
Italy
