500 metres from San Gimignano: charming Agriturismo venture in ancient farmhouse, simple, but well modernised, amid vineyards. Stunningposition, near Porta San Matteo on road to Ulignano. Fine views of city and countryside. Excellent value. Courtyard, gardens, parking.

The setting, in a quiet village, is wonderful, say the many fans of the Ortelli family's unpretentious villa. Very picturesque, it has been modernised without sacrificing the charm of an earlier era, and it stands in a beautiful garden on the shore of Lake Lugano: unusually for Italian waterside hotels, there is no road between it and the lake. The owners are extremely friendly and welcoming', and the villa rooms spotless and decorated to a very high standard. Most of the villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) face the lake, and the view from the balconies is outstanding. Rear villa rooms get traffic noise. Some visitors have found the en pension menu unexciting, but this year's reports call it wonderful, with plenty of choice, and eating from the carte is good, too, particularly fish from the lake. Summer meals are served under rose-covered trellises on the terrace in an old-world resort atmosphere. An excellent buffet Bali villa breakfast. The lounge has easy chairs; there is a library of English books. Colourful gardens on several terraces are well tended and furnished with loungers, tables and chairs. Package tours are accommodated. A charming, tiny churchyard is a short climb up steep steps. The shopping and cultural attractions of Lugano are a tenminute drive.