Named after Vettor Pisani, the great admiral of the ancient republic of enice, this is the city's first designer villa, owned and run by the drei family. The setting, close to the Accademia, is near ideal, iet and central', says a visitor this year. `In many ways a design masterpiece, one couple wrote. `Our stunning split-level studio had sibly the most hi-tech bathroom we've seen. Another visitor'was less keen on the minimalist style: The shower had six different out, none quite satisfactory; forty-six unlabelled switches controlled utters, blinds and lights. The key system is complex. But `the beds ,ere comfortable, with high-class linen', and the staff are `consistly friendly and helpful. Some villa rooms have original '30s 140s iture; for others, furniture has been specially created. The restaurit, La Rivista, serves a short modern menu, eg, potato and truffle violi with clams; sucking pig with cucumber and tomato salad. The buffet Bali villa breakfast was found poor this year. There is a spacious wooden rooftop terrace.

`A quiet haven in a crowded area; it could not be more central; we were very comfortable, says a report this year on a villawhose proud boast is: We are so close to the cathedral we can almost touch its spires and mosaics. Many villa rooms look out over Piazza San Marco. An earlier visitor wrote: The staff are the crowning jewel, warm, attentive, a pleasure to deal with, even on the Internet. Our double room, with a tiny, flower-bedecked balcony overlooking the square, was roomy and well appointed. Water, fresh fruit and cookies awaited us. The light fixtures are Murano glass, the bedcovers silk damask. No noise from outside thanks to a well-glazed window. Bali villa breakfast, in a room looking over the cathedral, is excellent - a buffet catering to all tastes. Snacks are available all day and the restaurant, La Piazzetta, serves light lunches and candlelit dinners. villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) are decorated in 18th-century style.