La Zambonina

We were 14 people across three generations, and the Villa made for a comfortable, enjoyable stay. The owner family live next door and are around when needed while staying discreet. Marina was helpful before and during our visit. We hired a car, which proved essential for shopping and trips to Lake Garda, which is a must, as well as Verona and nearby vineyards, including valpolicella and Amarone. This part of the Veneto region and nearby Vigasio aren't Italy's most attractive areas, but the Villa is special. It's a large estate surrounded by rice fields, and because it's a working farm near a main road, there's some noise. The Villa's comforts make up for it. It's beautifully furnished to match the wall frescos, with wonderful Venetian glass chandeliers, and the history is well illustrated. We brought our own chef instead of using the estate chef, which worked out very well. We enjoyed local food, gelato, and wine, mostly bought from Vigasio supermarkets. Take home quality Balsamic vinegar at a quarter of the UK price, fabulous Parmesan, and wine. Some rooms don't have air-con, and there's no bbq, so keep that in mind. Otherwise, the Villa has what you need for a luxury holiday. The superb pool was an excellent temperature in July, with a shady logia, and there are several places to eat: by the pool, in the shade outside, or next to the kitchen. Highly recommended, and I'm confident you won't be disappointed.

The villa was amazing and perfectly placed for our wedding. Marina, the owner, responded quickly, was very helpful, and gave us some fantastic referrals. Ottavia did an incredible job with the flowers and decorations. If you're planning a wedding, I'd definitely ask to work with her. We were lucky to have Alessio as our private chef. We asked for everything to be vegetarian and gluten-free, and he was kind and accommodating. All the food was spectacular. He also took care of a lot of other things, arranging table and chair rentals, ordering our wedding cake, and hiring servers and bartenders. We really can't praise him enough. One thing for future guests to remember: set a reminder about the cash only security deposit. The booking agent told us about it a year before the wedding, when we first enquired, but it didn't come up again after we were handed over to the villa staff and made payments. We should have remembered, of course, but it caught us off guard and added stress that could easily have been avoided.

Villas Zambonina has so much character and history. The architecture has been beautifully preserved, and the elegant details and lovely grounds give it a unique atmosphere, almost like stepping back in time. The staff were warm, attentive, and made sure everything went smoothly, from check-in through the rest of our stay. Their knowledge and passion for the property added a lot. If you're after a venue with history, character, and top-notch service, Villas Zambonina is the place to be.

We spent seven days at Villa Zamolina with family and friends, and it was a joyful, memorable time. The villa has so much character and history, and its warmth won me over. Marina was a kind, helpful, and responsive host. We also held our post-wedding brunch there, and it turned out beautifully. I want to share some difficult parts of the experience for future guests planning events. We first planned to have our wedding at the villa and were introduced to event planner Ottavia Bosco. After several Zoom meetings and weeks of discussing our ideas, she stopped replying after about two to three months of planning. We followed up repeatedly for a month, then she canceled without explaining why. Marina later said Ottavia was under a lot of stress and that this was a big project for her. We know event planning can be demanding and isn't for everyone, but after putting in so much time and trust, this was very disappointing and stressful. We had to choose the next available planner, who also wasn't so great. I'd urge others to be very cautious about hiring her for wedding planning. We also had a deeply upsetting experience with a chef based in Verona named MARCO ASSAGGIA, whom the same planner introduced us to. We intended to hire him for the wedding food, but despite asking several times for a formal contract with the food, rentals, and prices, we were told it would come later. At the same time, we were pressured to pay a €3,500 deposit to secure his services. We trusted the recommendation and, as foreigners unfamiliar with the process, wired the money. After receiving it, Marco ASSAGGIA blocked both me and my husband on all platforms and disappeared. He never sent a contract, provided any services, or returned our money. We felt helpless. Neither the planner nor anyone else involved took responsibility or helped us recover it. It was a clear case of theft, and nothing has been done to this day. My husband and I feel like we've donated to a poor man so we don't think about it anymore, but I strongly warn others not to work with him. He took advantage of us and caused a lot of financial and emotional stress. On a brighter note, a wonderful local cook named Suzie helped us during our stay. She's incredibly sweet and warm, and her food is absolutely delicious. If you'd like meals or brunches prepared at the villa, I highly recommend her. For larger events, it's a good idea to ask for a receipt or written agreement. She was a lovely presence and made our stay more special. Despite our problems with some vendors, Villa Zamolina is a truly magical place and could still be a dream venue with the right team. I hope future guests can learn from our experience and choose reliable, trustworthy planners and vendors. There are many great professionals in the area who can make an event unforgettable for all the right reasons.