I honestly think Patrizia & Joseph are the nicest innkeepers in the world. The first morning we came down to breakfast, we realized that we were the only people staying there, yet Patrizia had put out a table of delicacies for an army, not to mention made us the freshest eggs & most delicious coffee we've ever had in our lives. Joseph had pulled out some maps to show us of the surrounding area, merely to give suggestions, not to be pushy in any way. We went to a beautiful church in a little mountain town where the Knights Templar used to meet because of him.

Villa Gesi is a beautiful home off the beaten track about 25 minutes north of Verona. It is in the Valpolicella wine region about 30 minutes from the gorgeous Lake Garda. It is about an hour and a half from Venice & two hours from Milan. It is the perfect home base for lots of fabulous day trips.

There are 4 bedrooms. We stayed in very lovely room in the back of the house over-looking gardens & a distant winery. It was incredibly clean & beautifully decorated. Patrizia had also provided a bottle of wine, local chocolates & a basket of fruit. We arrived very late & even though I'm sure she was tired, she offered us a snack. (No, we did not take her up on it. But I would recommend you arrive in a more timely fashion because I'm sure it would have been amazing.)

All I can say is that the next time we go to Italy, we are staying at Villa Gesi longer. We cannot recommend it highly enough, from the beauty of the place to the wonderful hospitality of our hosts.

Spent two days here at end April. Situated in the Valpolicella wine region of Italy, 20 minutes drive from Verona, 30 minutes from Lake Garda and around 20 again to the autostrada.

Although situated on a b road, villagesi felt like a real get-away-from-it-all bolthole with charming hosts Joe and Pat. The villa is recommended by Logis d'Italia and the en-suite room was lovely with a rustic, antique feel to it.

But what really marked this accommodation out from the pack was Patrizzia's cooking: we were welcomed with a gratis plate of pasta, cheese and wine and the cake, meats and local cheeses for breakfast went down a treat.

While you're there try Dalla Bice for an evening meal: an unforgettable experience, if the food is a little fatty...and we live in Glasgow!