Forking through the flaky fresh, briny nuances of perfectly grilled Lake perch, interspersed with linguine tossed with Piedmont truffles, complemented by a glass of refreshing white Merlot, the world appears a matinee version of ‘’. Especially as this sun-bathed dining room comes alive with Goya frescos, and floor to ceiling glass windows that let in the colours of a sub-tropical garden that communes with a lake, coddled by gentle mountains. You can probably understand why the Italian phrase (the sweetness of idle nothing) becomes something of a preoccupation. This gorgeous setting is at the Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola, a 19th century mansion that is now a Relais and Chateau property—a five-star hotel, where the vibe is Mediterranean; the food extraordinary and the location, well, stunning! However,
