Hotel Piccolo Mondo

Breakfast was excellent and fresh, and the family run restaurant did a brilliant job. We had half board, and Jordan made the dinners especially enjoyable with his friendly, capable service. Cleaning was spotless and the towels decent. There were some real shortcomings, though. You can't pay as you go, and the hotel keeps a tab but gives only a total rather than an itemized bill. They need a better way to handle this, even a basic Revolut tap payment. Single women seemed to get the worst rooms. The bathroom tiles were painted, with no ledge or shelf in the shower or by the sink, which needs improvement for a claimed four-star place. The sign outside could be more contemporary. A spa downstairs could bring in extra income, and some evening entertainment or piano music would make use of the idle bar. I also didn't learn there were two pools until my third day, so a card in the room explaining that would help. A complimentary bottle of water in each room would be a small, inexpensive touch.

I come back to this great hotel very often. Nago-Torbole has an extraordinary mix of landscape, history and poetry. Goethe passed through in 1786 and wrote about the scenery in *Italian Journey*; a plaque marks his stay in Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Above the town are the ruins of Penede Castle, once an important medieval fortress, and the glacial rock formations called *Marmitte dei Giganti*, or “giants’ kettles.” The area also saw dramatic events in the Second World War. On April 30, 1945, Brigadier General William O. Darby, founder of the U.S. Army Rangers, was killed in Torbole by an artillery shell. That day, 25 soldiers of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division drowned when their amphibious vehicle sank, while 10 more died in combat near Nago. The town remembered the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day in 2025 with ceremonies and an exhibition, *“Post Scriptum: Lettere dal fronte”*, featuring wartime letters and relics from Trentino. The area's strategic importance goes back much further: in 1439, during the Venetian-Milanese conflicts, the Venetians hauled 25 barges and six galleys over the mountains from the River Adige to Lake Garda, using oxen and rollers. This feat, known as the *Galeas per montes*, helped them surprise and defeat the Milanese navy at Riva del Garda. You can still see traces along the path between Nago and Torbole.

The receptionists were extremely helpful and nice, and the rooms were a steal. The breakfast was pretty decent too. We were only there for one night, so didn't get a chance to use the spa or sauna. We drove an electric car and could charge it at the hotel, though there's only one charging point, so let reception know.

The location is handy for shops, restaurants, the port and the ferry on Lake Garda, with all the amenities within walking distance. Rooms were OK, and one male waiter was particularly helpful and efficient. The food was decent, but portions were small. I found the bed very uncomfortable. The shower was poor, with water going either too hot or too cold, and I had to stand in a bath to use it, which didn't feel safe.