Pianaura Suites

Rooms

Mara has a natural flair for design, pairing modern pieces with vintage finds (Murano glass mirrors, 60s sideboards, artfully deconstructed armchairs). The resulting mix is eclectic but extremely chic, and works beautifully against the whitewashed walls, beamed ceilings and resin floors; it’s no wonder the suites have graced the pages of several Italian style magazines.

Accessed via a steep staircase, they occupy the top 2 floors of the guest block, with a lounge and breakfast room underneath. We stayed in the first-floor Lower Suite, which is flooded with light thanks to a glass door with steps down to the courtyard beneath. We loved the bright splashes of apple green and mustard yellow, and the kitsch collection of tasselled lampshades hanging above the table. The ensuite is particularly snazzy, with a glass shower cubicle and a wall of windows screened by paper blinds.

The Upper Suite sits under sloping rafters on the floor above - a space once used to dry grapes for the area’s famous Amarone wine. It's similar in size to the Lower Suite but has a cosier feel, with subtle Oriental notes in the black furniture, red accents and lantern-like lamps. Its bathroom has funky cobalt-blue walls and a waterfall shower.

Both suites feature four-poster beds, and are filled with treats - carafes of wine, jars of biscuits, pampering Rituals toiletries, tea- and coffee-making kits.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is taken in the cosy lounge (which is only open to guests during the morning). You'll get fresh bread, pastries, local Monte Veronese cheese, prosciutto, yoghurt and fruit from the garden, with pots of tea and coffee. Each suite also has a simple kitchenette (fridge, sink, kettle, microwave and toaster).

Mara also provides a complimentary carafe of Valpolicella wine in both suites every day, so just pour yourself a glass and find a quiet corner in the garden for a sundowner. There are glass jars of homemade biscuits for when you get peckish, plus little fridges, kettles, tea bags and coffee. You could even head to the local village shop to stock up on cold meats and cheeses, and then enjoy an evening picnic in the gardens overlooking the valley.

For something more substantial, you’ll have to drive out, but there are plenty of fantastic restaurants in the surrounding villages - just ask Mara for recommendations. Many of Italy’s most popular dishes have their origins in these parts - risotto, tiramisu, tortellini pasta - so expect a feast, wherever you end up.

Features include:

• Breakfast

Activities

Sample the wares at Valpolicella's many vineyards. They're scattered across 3 pretty valleys - Marano, Negrar and Fumane - and many of the finest are within a 10-minute drive of the B&B (Mara can arrange transport for you)

• Tour the area's grand country villas, medieval villages and ancient Romanesque churches. Mara will suggest itineraries and point out places for delicious lunches along the way
  
• Spend a day in Verona, just 20 minutes away. Admire the Roman arena (the third largest in the world), gaze at the frescoed buildings lining the Piazza delle Erbe, and practise your swooning on Juliet’s balcony
  
• Lake Garda is also within easy reach. Avoid the theme parks around its southern tip and head north to the pretty villages of Torri del Benaco and Malcesine, or hop on a boat to elegant Salò on the western shore
  
• Go walking or mountain biking (Mara can arrange bike hire) in the hills behind the B&B, or venture further afield to the Lessina National Park (20km away) for beautiful nature trails, otherworldly rock formations, alpine meadows and, in winter, cross-country skiing
  
• Wander among cascades of water, tumbling mountain streams and prehistoric caves at the Molina Waterfall Park, 16km to the east. There are signposted circuits of varying lengths, as well as chairlifts that swing out over the falls
  
• There’s water of a more relaxing kind at the Aquardens Thermal Park (14km away), a vast spa complex with mineral-rich lagoons, hot tubs and indoor and outdoor pools
  
• Back at Pianaura Suites, soothe your muscles in the (unheated) hydrotherapy pool, bliss out with a massage or a spot of yoga, or sit back and watch the sun drop behind the distant mountains, glass of wine in hand

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Well being
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

No kids under 14 are accepted - the many steps and slopes would present a danger for young'uns, and the peace would be shattered by noisy bambini. Both suites have sofas that can be made up as extra beds for teenagers aged 14 or over; the Upper Suite accommodates up to 4 people.

Family friendly accommodation:

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Pianaura Suites is set on a hillside in the Valpolicella wine-making region, to the east of Lake Garda. It’s 20 minutes north of Verona and just under 2 hours from Milan, in northern Italy.

By Air:
The nearest airport is Verona (only 23km away), which is served by flights from cities across Europe. The B&B is also within easy reach of the small airport at Brescia (77km away), as well as Bergamo (129km away), Milan Linate (172km away) and Milan Malpensa (212km away).

From the Airport
This is a rural area with little public transport and very few taxis, so a car is essential - see below.

By Train:
The nearest station is Verona, which is served by regular trains from Milan, Venice and other Italian cities. Once there, you’ll need to hire a car for the final leg of the journey.

By Car:
For car hire see our car rental recommendations. Parking is available at the B&B.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.