We stayed at Villa Zamolina for seven days with our friends and family and truly had a blast. It was a memorable and joyful experience from start to finish. We even hosted our post-wedding brunch at the villa, which turned out beautifully and added to the special memories we made there. I personally love places with character and history, and this villa absolutely captured my heart. It was charming, unique, and filled with warmth. Marina was a wonderful host—kind, helpful, and responsive throughout our stay.
That said, I also feel a responsibility to share some important parts of our experience, especially for future guests planning events at the villa.
Initially, we were planning to host our wedding here, and we were introduced to an event planner named Ottavia Bosco. We had several Zoom meetings with her and spent weeks discussing the details of our vision. Unfortunately, after about two to three months of planning, she stopped responding entirely. Despite our repeated follow-ups over the course of a month, she ultimately canceled without explanation. Later, Marina informed us that Ottavia was under a lot of stress, and that this was a big project for her. While we understand that event planning can be demanding and its not for everyone it was still incredibly disappointing and stressful—especially after investing so much time and trust. We ended up having to chose from the next available planner which was also not so great. I would advise others to be very cautious when considering her for their wedding planning.
We also had a deeply upsetting experience with a chef based in Verona named MARCO ASSAGGIA. He was originally introduced to us by the same planner. We intended to hire him as the chef and food vendor for our wedding. Despite asking multiple times for a formal contract—including details about the food, rental items, and pricing—we were repeatedly told it would be sent later. Meanwhile, we were pressured to send a €3,500 deposit to secure his services. Trusting the recommendation, and as foreigners unfamiliar with the process, we wired the money. After receiving the deposit, Marco ASSAGGIA blocked both me and my husband on all platforms and completely disappeared. He never sent a contract, never provided any services, and never refunded the money. We were left feeling helpless. No one—neither the planner nor anyone else involved—took responsibility or helped us recover the money. It was a clear case of theft, and to this day, nothing has been done.
My husband and I feel like we have donated to a poor man so we dont think about it anymore, however I strongly warn others: do not work with this man. He took advantage of us, and it caused a great deal of financial and emotional stress.
On a brighter note, there is a wonderful local cook named Suzie who helped us during our stay. She is incredibly sweet, warm, and her food is absolutely delicious. If you’re staying at the villa and would like someone to prepare meals or brunches, I highly recommend her. For larger events, it’s a good idea to ask for a receipt or written agreement, but overall, she was a lovely presence and made our stay even more special.
Despite the issues we encountered with some of the vendors, Villa Zamolina is a truly magical place. With the right team around you, it can still be a dream venue. I hope future guests benefit from our experience and choose reliable, trustworthy planners and vendors—there are many great professionals in the area who can help make your event unforgettable for all the...
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