An elegant resort with a pretty, leafy lake front promenade and a good selection of boutiques and cafés, Gardone Riviera lies at the northern end of the Gulf of Salň on the western shore of Lake Garda. Sheltered by mountains from the more extreme weather conditions, Gardone enjoys a wonderful, subtropical climate which is ideal for the rich plant life that can be seen when walking through the lush parks of the resort or on a visit to the famous Hruska Botanical Gardens. A short walk from the village is the peculiar 'Il Vittoriale', former home to the author Gabriele D'Annunzio and stomping ground of 'Il Duce', Benito Mussolini, himself.