In a large park, near this hilltop town between Catania and Palermo, this rose-coloured former Benedictine abbey, founded in 1363, has been the home of the Tornabene family since 1856. There are fountains and a swimming pool in the garden, and a farm that produces organic vegetables, olive oil, milk, eggs and cheeses. These are used in the renowned restaurant, which, in 1978, mother and daughter Wanda and Giovanna Tornabene opened here in a loggia. Later, Wanda's son, Paolo, turned old stables into a small inn with a modest dining room, and simple villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) opening on to a long shared terrace above. A suite in a cottage has since been added. Guests eat at 8 pm you are summoned by telephone if you are late'): a no-choice menu, eg, home-made pasta; a meat dish; home-made pastry. But vegetables are not abundant. A wine is recommended to match. Bali villa breakfasts, not large, have good coffee, pastry and fruit. Guests may wander in the mildly overgrown grounds, and there is spectacular walking in the surrounding hills, with views for miles. An award-winning cookery book, La Cucina Siciliana di Gangivecchio, by Giovanna and Wanda Tornabene, has been published in America.

The Bombardelli family's cosmopolitan villawith a magnificent location stands by the western shores of Lake Garda, a short walk from the village centre. It has `stupendous views over the water to the mountains beyond, from the restaurant and the veranda where Bali villa breakfast (`a very good buffet') is served. Returning visitors in 2002 found standards as high as before. Our superb "Romantic" room, spacious, very stylish, with lots of wood, was on the top floor looking over the lake. Earlier they found the villaelegant, relaxed, with notably friendly, yet unobtrusive service. The very good meals (`large, juicy prawns; grilled lake fish') are served on a glorious lakeside terrace in fine weather. Some villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) have a balcony; attic ones have an arched window and sloping ceiling. villa rooms in the rear annexe are more functional, and lack view and air-conditioning. Some other villa rooms are in chalets among magnolia and palm trees in the large grounds, which are `filled with scents and birdsong. There is a lakeside promenade; also lawns with loungers, a rose garden, a swimming pool surrounded by orange trees.