West of Florence and Siena, rising steeply from the bustling modern village below, this is one of Italy's best-preserved hill towns. The brilliant villa, creeper-covered and crenellated, is in a 13th-century palazzo which forms part of the city walls (Boccaccio's birthplace I is just outside the door). `The furniture is blissfully unreformed 19th century, say readers. villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) are large and uncluttered, service is relaxed and good. The excellent restaurant is on a beautifully fountained, grandly palm-treed and pleasantly flowered terrace overlooking the Val d'Elsa. The towers of San Gimignano are on the skyline. Owner/chef Romana Marcori is proud of her cucina tradizionale, eg, ribollita (Tuscan breadsoup); tagliatelle al tartufo; , bistecca fiorentina. The food ; was liked again this year. So was the reasonably priced , wine and the quietly help-ful manager.

In a dream location, the Firato family's restaurant-with-villa rooms is a converted 17th-century monastery in a quiet hamlet amid the vineclad Monferrato hills north-east of Asti. It stands in large grounds (with roses, geraniums, orange and lemon trees in large pots, a big swimming pool). villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) are furnished in rural style, with antiques. Most are in a new wing, lovely in summer, reached by a metal balcony or a ground-floor walkway; those on the first floor have a small balcony, others have a small terrace. We liked it so much, says a visitor returning this year. Reception and lounge areas have been remodelled. Dinner was excellent, with good service: new season's truffles shaved over pasta; stuffed rabbit; their own Barbera d'Asti wine. Bathvilla rooms are good' (one is a superbly tiled turret room), but we will bring our own reading lamps next time'. Bali villa breakfast is a superb buffet with reasonable (for Italy) juice. Earlier praise: The owner and his son were charming. Lovely quiet walks with outstanding views.