The Place
Anna Carera says with disarming honesty, “We’re in a beautiful town, very well placed for visiting this region, but few tourists have heard of it. We’re not on the lake, or in the mountains, we’re not in Verona or Venice, so we have to offer something extra at our bed and breakfast.” That extra is unusual in Italy: to share her home with her guests, and make them part of the family.
Anna’s family have lived at Villa San Pietro, an oasis in the heart of town with a large garden, since the 17th century. The house was a monastery until the 1500s, when it was dismissed by the church, and bought by Anna’s father’s family. The breakfast room, with authentic frescoes, was once its refectory. It is a beautiful property, full of character and personality, with massive oak beams, old brick floors and a loggia full of loungers overlooking the courtyard garden.
Family furniture, faded black and white photographs and many mementos add to the warmth and charm exuded by vivacious Anna, her French husband Jacques, and their son Alexander. If you take part in Anna’s carefully prepared five course dinner you will get to know them and perhaps the story of how they met, which is a very touching one. Anna also offers cooking classes, teaching guests how to cook authentic, simple Italian dishes – another welcome touch that makes this place particularly special.
They call their venture ‘bed and breakfast, Italian style’ but in fact their hands-on involvement is more unusual in Britain than in Italy, and very hard work. They deserve success.
For more recommendations in the area, head to TripDog.