Villas Fit for 'Ocean's Twelve'

When Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Catherine Zeta-Jones converged on Italy in June to film "Ocean's Twelve," where did they stay? At George Clooney's 18-century villa, of course. As the $85-million "Ocean's Twelve" debuts this week, the tiny village of Laglio is about to be discovered by the world. And moviegoers swept away by the romantic scenery of Lake Como are in for a sweet surprise.

"You don't need to be Julia Roberts to vacation in that region," says Kit Burns, president of Doorways (www.villavacations.com), an American travel agency specializing in Italian villa rentals. "The affordability of these 400-year-old villas is one of Italy's best-kept secrets."

"George Clooney has great taste. The area around Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places on earth," says Burns. "But it's not just the scenery. There's so much to do. Hike the Alpine foothills of Como during the day. Have dinner on the island restaurant of La Locanda dell'Isola." Or shop the designer outlets just over the border into Switzerland.

Vacationers can also explore old monasteries, palatial villas and quaint fishing villages. In the winter there's cross country skiing in the foothills, and downhill skiing in the Alps.

Doorways, Ltd. has villas - available for weekly rentals - with breath-taking views of Lake Como and nearby Lake Maggiore. "If you're really lucky," says Burns, "you might even bump into George Clooney."

In fact, two Doorways customers spotted Clooney and Pitt at the Hotel de Russie last summer while the two were on sight filming - this time in Rome. Doorways customers have also found themselves sitting next to Frances Mayes, author of "Under the Tuscan Sun," near Cortona, Tuscany. Doorways rents villas throughout Italy, France, and Spain.

"We can't promise a Brad Pitt encounter with every rental," says Burns. "But spending a week in a 17th-century villa will at least make you feel like a Hollywood superstar."

For more information visit www.villavacations.com.