Villa Sogara has many things. It has breathtaking beauty (the pictures online do not do it justice). It has a fascinating history. It has wonderful hosts (warm, entertaining and informative hosts). And it has the usual things you would expect from a pool to an elevator, to a huge kitchen and several great spots to have a meal with lots of people. Our only complaint is that we were not able to share it with more people. Our party was a family of four and we only used a small bit of the villa. We had hoped to share our time with some nearby relatives, but our plans did not materialize. You will need a car as there is little that you can get to by walking - but you will spend a day or two doing nothing but lazing by the pool and exploring all the rooms and antiques. Day trips to Verona and Lake Garda are all easily accomplished. Sirmione is a must - as is going for a swim in the lake and renting a boat to see some of the sights from the water. There are plenty of places to rent a boat and the rental transaction takes about 30 seconds - hand over some Euros and your license and hop on the boat. No paperwork! Malcesine is also worth the drive - it takes an hour or so, but the drive through the mountains and through small towns is unforgettable. Tommaso and Ela live in the apartment next door. They are available for anything you need and are a phenomenal resource. If you want privacy, they disappear. But when you come and go through the big iron gate, they will check in to see how things are going. You will soon find that you look forward to seeing them and want to share time with them and learn more about their family history, the villa and the surrounding area. Tommaso and Ela also prepared one of the best meals of our trip - we dined outdoors next to 2000 year old columns and enjoyed a 5 course gourmet meal. Tommaso's 12 year old niece joined us and helped take care of the couple's baby daughter, Sofia. It was an experience we will not soon forget. If you like dogs, they'll let Stella run around with you a bit, too. That made my daughters happy. If you don't like dogs, Stella will be no where to be seen... Tommaso is an email fanatic - he and I corresponded quite a bit before our arrival. If you have questions, he has answers. And if he has a recommendation for a particular restaurant, take his recommendation! We have rented many homes, but Villa Sogara certainly stands out as one or our luckiest finds!
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Stayed June/July 2015.
We arrived by train in Verona from the Amalfi Coast. We were two families traveling together with a total of 5 boys. Tommaso arranged to have transportation pick us up at the train station and bring us to Villa Sogara.
Because it was evening, we really weren't able to see too much around us. However, the inside of the villa did not disappoint. It was huge and filled with original but lovely furniture. Tommaso gave us a tour and explained some of it's history. You could definitely feel the pride he had for this place.
Before we arrived, Tommaso had told me that a meal could be prepared for us so that we wouldn't have to worry about cooking. I thought it was a great idea because I knew we would be very tired from traveling and with 5 boys, starving. What he didn't tell me is that his wife Ela, was such an amazing cook. Truly her food was absolutely delicious and we ate Al Fresco style outside. What a wonderful way to start our week long visit in Verona. We still talk about how wonderful her meal was. I hope she will one day start up her food blog and post her recipes!!
In addition to that, Tommaso did shopping for us and had some basic staples (fruit, eggs, juice, milk, bread, prosciutto, cheese etc) ready at the Villa so we could easily prepare breakfast the next day and then go do a more thorough grocery shopping later. Speaking of the next day, we were able to see the grounds and the outside of the Villa. Indeed the villa was just as beautiful as the pictures we had seen on the internet and the grounds even more so.
Any questions we had, directions, help we needed etc - Tommaso and Ela were there to assist us and always with a smile. And their beautiful daughter, Sofia was a joy to be around. Having them near (they live in the apartment connected to the villa) was comforting and convenient.
While we were there, we traveled to many places in, around and away from the area, but it was always good to come back home to Villa Sogara. Verona itself is a beautiful city. If you have a chance to take in an Opera at the Arena di Verona, don't miss it. It's a fabulous experience. Though touristy, we even enjoyed going to see the house of Juliet. You're there, why not go? Also, wonderful just to walk around the city and enjoy life sitting in the square.
In closing, I really recommend that you consider staying at Villa Sogara. You will not be disappointed. Again Tommaso and his family are wonderful and will do everything they can to make sure your stay is enjoyable. Make sure you ask Ela to cook for you!!
Tommaso, we can't thank you enough for everything. Our stay at Villa Sogara contributed greatly to a wonderful vacation in Italy.
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I arrived at Villa Sogara to find that the photos on the website while accurate cannot begin to capture the romantic beauty of the villa itself and the surrounding gardens and vineyards. Beautiful, interesting and serene, it was the perfect setting for our sketch booking workshop, cooking classes, lounging around the pool, and easy trips into Verona. Tommaso and Emma are warm and their pride in sharing this legacy is palpable. Eleven of us were quite comfortable in large, high ceilinged bedrooms, each with its own charm, and yes, to modern amenities and bathrooms! There was a unanimous "Let's come back next year!"
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Every year I take a group of adult students to Italy for a sketching workshop and this year we stayed at Villa Sogara. It was a dream of a place: beautiful rooms, modern conveniences (like elevator and air conditioning and a swimming pool!) blended wonderfully with old world beauty (antique furniture, art, books, courtyard). The host, Tomaso and his wife, Ella, are wonderful too. Available, flexible, kind, thoughtful. Just a slice of heaven!
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The most wonderful place. Tomasso and Ella were perfect hosts and so welcoming. The house with all its history is stunning and tranquil. I stayed here with 11 other friends and we had a really happy few days, swimming in the good sized pool, eating the most delicious food cooked by Ella in the loggia and basking in sunshine within the idyllic grounds of the villa. This place is an absolute must!!!!!
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We arrived at the beautiful Villa Sogara where we were met by the owner Tommaso. He is very knowledgeable and proud of the history of the villa and shared this with us as he showed us around.
You get a sense of this history as you walk around the rooms, all furnished with antiques and pictures that his family have collected over many generations.
Once unpacked, we headed to the pool where we sat on the loungers and soaked up the afternoon sun. The pool is a good size and perfectly situated to get the most out of the sunshine and views across the vineyards.
That evening we gathered under the shade of the trees and drank in the heady smell of the Gardenia and Jasmine that is growing in the garden.
Ella and Tommaso had catered for us for 2 out of the 3 evenings that we stayed, we were treated to 4 or 5 courses of the most spectacular food that Ella had lovingly cooked for us and to some wine from Tommaso's own vineyards.
Villa Sogara is a unique property and is set in the most spectacular scenery and if you are looking for somewhere to stay that offers a real sense of Italian history and style then this is definitely the place for you. But what will really make your holiday something to truly remember are the owners Tommaso and Ella for whom nothing is too much trouble. They had purchased our shopping for us (we had previously emailed a list to them), organised transfers and taxis throughout our stay, and booked a table in a restaurant opposite the Arena for the night we had gone into Verona to the opera.
I would highly recommend Villa Sogara as a place to stay especially if you are a large group (we were a group of 12).
Verona itself is stunning I highly recommend a walk along the river and stopping for a gelato. The Opera was something definitely worth doing but suggest taking a seat cushion and a bottle of water.
We were only in Italy for 4 days but definitely intend to return and hope to stay at the Villa Sogara again.
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We recently had the opportunity to once again vacation at the splendid Villa Sogara located among the hillside vineyards just east of Verona. Welcomed back as if we were family by Tomasso and Ela, eight of us spent the week absorbed in Italian culture both in their spacious villa and on outings that our hosts not only arranged but accompanied us. We never would have discovered some of the treasures of the area without their guidance. Language problems were not an issue with fluently bilingual hosts to accompany us on the outings to wineries and even a pasta ‘factory’. The full use of the kitchen made for relaxing meals in the dining room. We loved the interactive cooking class provided by Ela, where we were taught to make many unique and delicious creations followed by a meal together.
While Villa Sogara is located on a secluded private estate, it is very central to many of the local ‘must see’ attractions. We enjoyed quick easy drives to spend the day in Verona, beautiful Lake Garda and the spectacular waterside towns, as well as other historical sites. The drive along the lake was one of the most picturesque routes that we have ever experienced in many years of travelling in Europe.
If you are a group planning a trip to Italy, we highly recommend that you consider Villa Sogara. It will provide an experience to which you will undoubtedly want to return again and again.Â
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