With
CHARM AND PASSION
Beyond the undeniable charm bestowed by its privileged setting and timeless beauty, Villa del Sogno preserves an authentic and deeply special soul: the Passion with which it has been loved, cherished, and carefully preserved by its owners throughout the generations.
A Passion that can still be felt today in every detail and that, season after season, continues to welcome guests from around the world in an atmosphere of rare elegance and genuine hospitality.
Amid distinguished personalities, memorable encounters, and the events that unfolded during the refined era of the Belle Époque, Villa del Sogno has preserved its spirit intact, becoming a silent witness to a history shaped by charm, culture, and beauty.
We would like to share with you the most significant moments in the history of this extraordinary place, allowing you to discover its true essence and the passion that has always animated it.
1890
At the close of the Nineteenth Century, during a period of remarkable growth and transformation, Maximilian Heydweiller arrived in Gardone Riviera. He was a prominent member of the Heydweiller industrial dynasty of Krefeld, Germany.
1890
1904
Maximilian Heydweiller acquired a vast estate, formerly owned by the family of Faustino Cipani, extending from the hills of Gardone Sopra to the lakeshore of Fasano. In the early years of the Twentieth Century, he commissioned the Strasbourg-based architects Voltz & Wimmer to design a prestigious villa intended as his private residence.
1904
1910
The residence was named Villa Garda and soon became a renowned gathering place frequented by aristocrats and members of the Italian, German, and Austro-Hungarian upper classes travelling along Lake Garda.
1910
1916
His Royal Highness the Duke of Aosta, Commander-in-Chief of the Third Army, ordered the Garda Military Command to requisition several villas and hotels in Gardone Riviera in order to convert them into military hospitals and convalescent facilities for soldiers returning from the front. Villa Garda was deemed particularly suitable for the accommodation of senior officers during their recovery and continued to serve this purpose until 1918, when the First World War came to an end.
1916
1918
The Garda Military Command subsequently entrusted the management of the properties previously confiscated from their German owners to the National Association of Veterans, which administered them until the State Property Office arranged their sale.
1918
1921
Engineer Giovanni Breda, a highly respected entrepreneur and visionary industrialist, acquired the prestigious estate formerly owned by the Heydweiller Family, becoming the new owner of Villa Garda. Having achieved a position of great prominence within Italy’s industrial and business landscape, he decided during the second half of the 1930s to realise a long-cherished dream: transforming his distinguished residence into an exclusive and elegant hotel.
1921
1938
In preparation for the upcoming tourist season, Mr. Breda decided to rename the property and inaugurated the hotel under the evocative name Villa del Sogno. From its earliest years, the hotel enjoyed considerable success and quickly established itself as one of the area's most sought-after destinations.
1938
1942
The difficulty of obtaining essential supplies and provisions forced Giovanni Breda to suspend the hotel’s operations.
1942
1943
The hotel was requisitioned by the Wehrmacht and converted into a convalescent facility reserved for senior SS officers.
1943
1945
The hotel was requisitioned by the American Army and converted into a temporary military headquarters.
1945
1948
In the post-war years, the hotel resumed operations and welcomed its first international guests, particularly visitors from Great Britain.
1948
1950
Throughout the 1950s, Lake Garda witnessed a period of renewal in the hospitality sector, with many tourism entrepreneurs modernising their properties and opening new hotels and the region’s first campsites. Giovanni Breda likewise worked tirelessly to restore Villa del Sogno to its pre-war prestige, gradually regaining a selected clientele that would continue to frequent the hotel in the years to come.
1950
1972
Hotel Villa del Sogno passed from the Breda Family to Germano Chincherini, who in the same year transferred ownership to the Swiss brothers Gianluigi and Helmut Fritzsche.
1972
1986
The entire Villa del Sogno hotel estate, including its furnishings and extensive park of more than 35,000 square metres, was acquired by Aida and Aldo Calderan. Today, their family -now represented by the second and third generations - continues to care for the property with dedication, love, and passion.
1986
2004
Villa del Sogno celebrated its first one hundred years of history.
2004
2006
The hotel received important international accolades and welcomed distinguished guests, including renowned personalities such as George Clooney.
2006
Today
Today, the second and third generations of the Calderan Family continue to guide the hotel with dedication, preserving its heritage and prestige while maintaining a harmonious dialogue between tradition and contemporary hospitality.
Today
An history
MADE OF GENERATIONS
