Not to mention the verdant rolling hills and spectacular coastlines. Our luxury villas in Italy may be set upon a lavish private estate or sumptuously kitted out with Roman-style marble baths and original Venetian chandeliers. From the glamorous lakeside towns of Como and Garda in the north to the emerald mounds of Tuscany and Umbria in the centre and picturesque Puglia in the south, it could take a lifetime of discovery to truly unpick each wonder of Italy. It’s little surprise then that discerning travellers from across the globe will return here time and again for unmatched natural beauty, rich cultural discovery, and, of course, the heavenly flavours.
Feeling the gentle breeze as you drift down Lake Como on a white sailboat; a spot of afternoon wine tasting at a rolling green vineyard; the agonising choice between tiramisu or affogato as an after-dinner treat. There is no shortage of fabulous experiences to be had in Italy.
But when is the best time of the year to plan a visit to Italy? For perfect sunshine and a lively atmosphere, the peak season of June to August will always be a good choice. You won’t escape the crowds, but few summer nights can be rivalled by a glowing piazza at sundown. The cobbled ground is lined with small tables and ice-cold wine buckets; there’s an easy-going ambience; the food is delicious; and the dappled light is illuminated by the last golden rays. Equally lovely is the never-ending sunshine from your villa’s poolside—lazy lunches fade all too easily into aperitivos at sunset, firing up the barbecue, and relishing in the bliss of a warm night beneath the stars.
The weather in Italy rarely fails to please outside of peak season, too. Springtime is normally very mild; you won’t swim in the sea until late April, but you can visit the cultural hotspots with fewer people around, and the blooming flowers everywhere you look are a wonderfully welcome addition. The colours of autumn in Italy are another treat not to be missed. Balmy evenings with a gentle breeze are perfect for a wine tour in the rolling hills of Tuscany, or you could venture into the rustic villages close to your villa to experience the delights of an Italian harvest festival.
Perhaps the most romantic of all the European countries, achingly chic, and wildly delicious, there is no end to the list of reasons why you should visit Italy on your dream villa holiday. In your perfectly appointed manor house or elegant home with views of the Tyrrhenian Sea, you feel yourself relax deeply into an indulgent rhythm of life.
The cuisine in Italy is always hearty, packed with flavour, and undoubtedly prepared with love. In the central regions of Tuscany and Umbria, you will taste truffles from the valleys in comforting, rural dishes that feel both humble and decadent at the same time. The Italians here love their thick soups, such as white bean ribollita or the richly tomatoey pappa al pomodoro.
Agricultural Puglia in the south is the heartland for Italy’s olive oil production. Everything you try here will more than likely be locally grown and brimming with the requisite flavour. With such bountiful land and mouth-watering creations, there is no shortage of heavenly days in Italy for lovers of gastronomy. Head out on a private wine or olive oil tasting tour in the gorgeous countryside, try a local cooking class, or feast like a king at your villa with your own private chef and a custom-designed menu.
La dolce vita is so much more than just the splendid flavours of Italy. It’s morning coffee in the sparkling sunshine beside Lake Como; whizzing up and down the hills of Tuscany on an e-bike; wandering the cobbled streets of Florence and marvelling at a Renaissance masterpiece; or discovering tucked-away coves on the mystical limestone coastline of Puglia. With more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country in the world, you will never be far from a spell-binding view—be it while out exploring or from the comfort of your villa.
Tuscany is a wine region of world-renown, home to a stretch of unspoiled beaches along the Pisan Coast, and a small mecca for gorgeous historic and art-filled cities—Florence and Siena, to name a few. Vast diversity and cultural flair are not the only treasures. It’s this endlessly green region’s abundance of natural beauty that makes it truly stand out. Tuscany is instantly recognisable for its lush, rolling hills that seem to infinitely spill out into the distance, their palate changing into ever darker shades of emerald. Imagine yourself waking up in an elegant manor house, throwing open the shutters to welcome in the soft aroma of lavender from your gardens, and taking in vistas of floral meadows, olive groves, and tumbling hills stretching as far as the eye can see, all the way to Umbria.
The winelands of Tuscany are often what Italy is best known for. Taste the flavours of Chianti on a private tour, or have the region’s finest sommeliers come to your villa. Another delicacy to try are the renowned white truffles of San Miniato, which are especially lovely when paired with tagliolini, or centre stage in a carpaccio. It’s this kind of unique and utterly tasty local cuisine in Italy that will always keep you coming back for more.
Tuscany is mainly served by the international airport in Pisa. It’s not the largest airport in Italy, but it has good connections with most major airlines. The closest international airport outside of the region is in Rome.
A place of serene beauty and fabulous villas, there is no doubt that some of the most picturesque things to do in Italy can be found beside The Lakes.
The most bijou of towns have sprung up around the sparkling azure, perhaps the most famous of all in Como. Here you can take a gentle cruise by boat to admire Villa del Balbianello and stop at La Colombetta to taste the lake fish specialties. However, even with the best intentions for exploring, you may indeed find that your splendid lakeview villa is too hard to peel yourself away from. Your days here may well be best spent curled up under the rooftop pergola, with a glass of red in hand and the most idyllic sunset in store.
The closest airport is Milan Bergamo, around 50km away. This large airport is one of the busiest in Italy, offering a broad range of international connections.
Puglia is instantly recognisable for its trulli houses; you’ll spot them peppering the landscape as soon as you arrive, and within a matter of minutes, there are too many to count. Staying in a restored masseria, complete with its own stone trulli, promises a truly memorable villa holiday in Italy. All of our restored villas are decked out with sumptuous amenities and modern-day finery, while faithfully honouring the original charm of the home.
Resting in the heel of the boot, Puglia has cultivated a unique culture and humble flavour of its own. The birthplace of burrata cheese, this is clearly the spot for some of the most gorgeous cuisine in Italy. Set off into the golden countryside on an olive oil tasting tour or pad out on stoney ground in the elegant baroque city of Lecce, with cultural and architectural delights aplenty. With its coastline hugged by both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, there is no shortage of special beaches to be found in Puglia. Polignano a Mare is a must-visit; its lofty town is perched 20 metres high on a limestone cliff, and its beach connects the town to sea level.
Getting to Puglia could not be easier, with two international airports available. Brindisi and Bari are distributed across the length of Italy’s “boot heel” on the map, collectively providing a wealth of connections for travellers to the whole region.
The little sister to Tuscany, Umbria is a richly green region in Italy’s heartland. Undisturbed by any borders or seas, we like to think of Umbria as a pure slice of magic, with some of the most unique and interesting things to do in Italy. Our homes here can’t help but be enveloped by the countryside—perhaps encased again in the sprawling grounds of their own estate or with gardens that directly overlook a verdant valley. There are no sea views in Umbria, but you can go to the sandy shores of Lake Trasimeno to swim, canoe, or sail in pristine waters, or take a short hike to admire the powerful cascatella of Marmore Falls.
The region yields its own distinctive black truffles and Sagrantino wine. Hunt for truffles yourself in the tiny ancestral village of Pettino, or skip the leg work and head straight to La Taverna in Perugia. Umbria’s capital and just one of many charming mediaeval towns, Perugia is brimming with Etruscan sites, interesting art galleries, and its own four-day jazz festival each July. Summer is undoubtedly the best season to visit Italy for live music and cultural events.
International flights go directly into Perugia; however, as this is one of the smaller airports in Italy, you may find there is more choice available if you go through nearby Rome instead.
