19 Dreamy Italian Villas You Can Actually Stay In
Call it The White Lotus effect, or just a return to classic la dolce vita tastes, but all eyes are on Italy for 2023 and beyond. The dream scenario? A sprawling palazzo or farmhouse address to call your own, in Sicily or Tuscany, with a pool, a view, and plenty of room for the whole crew. Then there are the houses, perched high along the Amalfi Coast, supersized trullos in Puglia, and beach-side mansions in Sardinia—it’s little wonder Italy is renowned around the world for its astonishing mix of properties to take over as your own. The villas on this list include grand mansions once owned by aristocrats as well as more pared-back homestays for a small group. Some are blow-the-budget expensive, while others cost from as little as $19 per person per night. But all are smart hideouts in our favorite corners of the country.
All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Villa Serenity, San Venanzo
You'll want to rent a car to get to this Umbria villa, but once you arrive, you may find it hard to leave. The views from the infinity pool are captivating, and there's no shortage of places to perch around the property, from lounge chairs to the outdoor dining table to tucked-away benches and bistro tables. Inside, up to 12 guests can spread out amongst the six bedrooms, all with queen beds and en suite bathrooms, or cozy up around the fire in the living room. Through Plum Guide, guests can ask a concierge to arrange for a chef, babysitter, or masseuse; make restaurant reservations; or book local tours.
Sleeps: 12
Price: from $4,378 per night (four-night minimum)
Stefano CorsoVilla Tasca, Sicily
If you’re here to live out the White Lotus fantasy, you’re in luck—the dazzling Italian palazzo Harper Spiller and Daphne Sullivan (Aubrey Plaza and Meghann Fahy) stayed in is available to rent on Airbnb. The lavish 16th-century Villa Tasca is set among 20 acres of manicured gardens, including a swan lake, citrus garden, and the famously idyllic swimming pool. Inside, all four bedrooms are kitted out with freestanding bathtubs, mini-fridges, and air-conditioning. Opt to take supper in the formal dining room or alfresco on the terrace—the service of a chef, as well as a butler and two room attendants, is included in the price.
Sleeps: 8
Price: $5,896 per night
Courtesy Villa LauraVilla Laura, Tuscany
Movie buffs will recognize this traditional, centuries-old villa set in Cortona from 2003’s Under the Tuscan Sun. In the film, Diane Lane’s character Frances purchases Villa Bramasole on a whim and sets about renovating the house. In real life, Villa Laura has benefited from a similar revamp, with soaring beamed ceilings, terracotta tiles, and original stonework keeping interiors authentic, but also a games room and a contemporary kitchen with a ginormous marble island. In the gardens, there’s a pool, a hot tub, and a pizza oven, as well as a farmhouse with additional bedrooms. All in all, the estate has space for 16. Take it over for a group holiday and soak up that Italian sunshine.
Sleeps: 16
Price: $1,715 per night
Davide RizzoVilla Abruzzo, Abruzzo
Medieval towns, olive groves, and vineyards are dotted all around the region of Abruzzo, and yet this villa looks straight out of 1960s Hollywood. The vision is courtesy of owner Davide, who channeled his love of architecture and LA midcentury design into this three bedroom villa he has nicknamed “Little California.” Set across two split levels, the lush surroundings are center stage via floor-to-ceiling windows within the open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area, as well as a perfectly placed infinity pool. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered to be in keeping with the home’s aesthetic, from the sputnik chandeliers in the lounge to the peacock chairs in the bedrooms.
Sleeps: 6
Price: $912 per night
Courtesy Plum GuidePuglian Paradise, Puglia
Peeping over the Adriatic, this crisp white villa has an appealing set up for two families—two self-contained apartments set up under one roof. Bedrooms are cheerful with touches of blue and bright yellow. Nab the primary bedroom with yellow curtains and wake up to knockout views from bed. Outside, there’s plenty of room on the sprawling terrace (complete with a pizza oven and double barbecue) for everyone to come together for an alfresco lunch, followed by a dip in the saltwater swimming pool. For more lunch and swimming spots, the charming town of Fasano and Ottagono Beach are both close by.
Sleeps: 8
Price: $663 per night
Courtesy Villa CetinaleVilla Cetinale, Tuscany
Baroque palaces dot Tuscany’s landscape. Among gnarled vineyards and rolling olive groves, these 17th-century villas stand as a grand reminder of the region’s noble history. This particular property was built in 1680 for Pope Alexander VII and has drawn a procession of famous names since: Princess Margaret once made regular appearances at soirées here, as did Mick Jagger and Rupert Everett, and Kate Moss has been known to drop by. After decades of decadence, the manor is now in the hands of Ned Lambton, whose father purchased it in the 1970s. Interiors are as opulent as you would expect—four-poster beds, marble side tables—and the manicured gardens are lined with cypress trees. The family now rents out the whole house, which can sleep up to 27, on Airbnb—it’s the ultimate place for a blowout party.
Sleeps: 27
Price: $8,422 per night
Courtesy Plum GuideSognante, Sicily
In terms of location, it doesn’t get much better than this secluded beach house that sits on the sand and is just steps from the sea on Sicily’s southeastern coast. The house itself is modern coastal cool, with blue shutters, wooden beams, white walls, and floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the view. The two-bedroom setup is ideal for a family, with plenty of outdoor space for little ones to roam, along with a private saltwater pool. To roam further, the charming seaside town of Pozzallo is a short drive away.
Sleeps: 4
Price: $778 per night
Courtesy AirbnbPamina, Positano
Peeping over the Amalfi Coast, this 17th-century seafront villa has been brought up to the minute with fresh blue-and-white tiles, walls the color of steamed milk, pops of bright yellow, green geometric fabrics, and huge, arched windows overlooking the gardens. There’s room for nine to spread out over six ensuite bedrooms and two shady terraces. Breakfast is prepared daily in the pretty kitchen by the housekeepers, who also keep the villa freshened up during your stay. And there’s a pool, hidden behind tall hedges in the garden, for serious seclusion.
Sleeps: 9
Price: $2,603 per night
Villa Valguarnera, Sicily
The Sicilian seaside town of Bagheria was once where Palermo’s high society disappeared for the summer, staying in neoclassical mansions along the coast. Villa Valguarnera is one of these former escapes, now owned by Princess Vittoria Alliata di Villafranca, whose ancestors built it in the 18th century. The piano nobile, or first floor, of the vast building is available to rent—it has its own entrance via an external staircase, and encompasses three frescoed reception rooms, a ballroom, a huge kitchen and three terraces that overlook the impeccable gardens. The place comes fully staffed with a cook and a butler, and guests can explore the whole house, where Vittoria will regale them with stories of the famous people who have stayed here over the years (Salvador Dalí is likely to be name-checked).
Sleeps: 6
Price: from about $11,893 for a one-week stay (fully staffed), or $283 per person per night
Courtesy AirbnbRustic villa, Noto
Noto is one of our favorite towns in Sicily, and this renovated house is a brilliant base from which to explore it. Huge glass doors lead from the pastel-hued bedrooms to the rugged garden, where a little pool has panoramic views of the treetops below. Back inside, there’s a farmhouse-style kitchen for long breakfasts of locally sourced pastries (pick them up from Caffè Sicilia in town) and strong coffee.
Sleeps: 7
Price: $349 per night
Courtesy AirbnbPool villa, Tuscany
Lofty arches lead from the rustic, beamed sitting room in this traditional home to the pretty tiled kitchen. Host Rose has kept things simple, with a cream, terracotta, and azure color palette throughout the ground floor, where shelves are stuffed with books and trinkets. The three bedrooms are dominated by iron four-posters and vintage wardrobes. A pool is surrounded by scrubby farmland, and there are two terraces with mountain views for aperitivi.
Sleeps: 8
Price: $289 a night
Courtesy Villa RafaelVilla Rafael, Sardinia
The natural beauty of Sardinia is well-known—the beaches here are easily the best in Italy—so it’s a master move that this villa makes a point to bring much of the outdoors in. Large windows and glass doors create a light and breezy space while the interiors play upon the villa’s natural surroundings by using raw woods, wicker, and stone. All five bedrooms feature king-size beds, ensuite bathrooms, exposed wooden beams, and open up onto outdoor spaces. The sprawling deck and swimming pool are guaranteed crowd pleasers, as is the massage room and sauna.
Sleeps: 10
Price: $4,873 per night
Villa Porto Ercole, Tuscany
If you’ve heard about the town of Porto Ercole before, it’s most likely because of Il Pellicano—the glitzy hotel that rose to fame when the likes of Sophia Loren, Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Grace and Slim Aarons began soaking up the promontory’s Tuscan serenity in the Sixties. But further up the hill, hidden among towering pines and winding paths, lies a place that takes dolce far niente to new heights. Etched into the hillside, this villa offers what could be the best views in all of Tuscany—endless greenery tumbling down into the blue lagoons of Levante and Orbetello. Beyond, the region’s classic rolling hills melt into the mainland. The villa itself is unassuming from the outside; but what looks like a small terracotta-walled bungalow burrows downwards to sleep 14 guests in cool, stone bedrooms with windows and balconies framed by wisteria. Behind the main villa lies a sloping vineyard which supplies the estate's own Poggio del Crognolo wine collection. There’s a guest house with extra bedrooms and a games/music room complete with a pool table, drum kit, guitars and keyboard (best to be avoided after a few glasses of the estate’s wine). The swimming pool offers the same serotonin-boosting views, behind the privacy of some sky-scraping cypress trees, with sunbeds and an al fresco lounge area for lazy afternoons snoozing and sunbathing. There’s a shady outdoor kitchen and dining area for barbecuing and playing table tennis or table football, and a gym equipped with a treadmill, rowing machine, shoulder press and punching bag. A chef can be available upon request, and The Luxury Travel Book app comes with a handy guidebook to the surrounding area, services, contact numbers, maps and local recommendations. —Olivia Morelli
Sleeps: 14
Price: from $8,373 per week
Courtesy AirbnbTrullo Apulia, Puglia
Puglian trulli—the historic domed houses the region is famous for—have long been turned into home stays by enterprising locals. Trullo Apulia, a two-bedroom a few miles outside the whitewashed town of Ostuni, has been simply made over to create a pretty retreat. Stone-walled rooms have been cleverly reimagined to fit two double bedrooms, a family room, a charming kitchen, and a living room with an indoor fireplace for those staying in the winter. And in the summer, there’s a pool surrounded by wild greenery.
Sleeps: 8
Price: $150 per night
Courtesy Villa San BarberinoVilla San Barberino, Tuscany
From the arched entryways and wooden beams to the roll top baths and antique stone basins, you can tell every inch of this farmhouse has been restored with love. Home cooks will be in their element in the atmospheric kitchen, where a large cooker and double oven sit inside a stone fireplace. Rustle up a rustic Italian feast for the whole crew and serve it outside on the large pegola overlooking the surrounding olive trees and vineyards. All five bedrooms are beautiful, but the standout is on the ground floor, where the bedroom connects to a spa area with a beautiful mosaic tiled steam room, sauna, and sunken hot tub.
Sleeps: 10
Price: $10,463 per week
Philip VileReschio, Umbria
Not just one house but a whole jumble of them (plus an astonishing hotel)—Reschio is Umbria’s most extraordinary estate. Built 1,000 years ago, its farms were left to ruin until the 1980s, when Austro-Hungarian expat Count Antonio Bolza discovered the place. He and his family went about renovating the rickety outhouses, but it has been a slow process—26 of the buildings have been restored and sold to private buyers, and nine of these are available to take over when their owners are out of town. Every structure is distinct from the next: Arrighi is a former watchtower set in the hills, while Casa delle Suore is thought to have once been a convent. The grounds are also home to a hotel in a tumbledown castle, a couple of restaurants with ridiculous oil-painting views, stables, and a cookery school. This is an incredible stretch of land to discover.
Sleeps: 12
Price: Rental houses on the estate start at about $14,000 for a week
Courtesy Trullo GauraTrullo Gaura, Puglia
The iconic conical stone huts of Puglia are typically snug boltholes, but Trullo Gaura has cleverly combined all of the charms of a trullo with modern spacious living. The villa comprises two wings brought together by a central open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area. The original exposed stone walls are showcased throughout, as are the manicured gardens via various courtyards, terraces, and French windows. The sprawling layout lends itself to privacy too, with the bedrooms spread out on either side of the villa and beyond.
Sleeps: 8
Price: $4,523 per week
Courtesy Rocca delle Tre ContradeRocca delle Tre Contrade, Sicily
The only property on this hill near Santa Venerina on Sicily’s east coast, Rocca delle Tre Contrade has some of the most jaw-dropping views on the island—on a clear day, you can see Mount Etna as well as the glittery Ionian from its carefully manicured garden. The house is staffed with a housekeeper and a chef who will pick up the freshest produce from the market for late lunches by the horizon-pushing pool or suppers on the terrace. There are 12 bedrooms and as many bathrooms, with reclaimed furniture and vintage finds beneath triple-height vaulted ceilings. Plus, the water is heated with solar panels, and the vegetable garden supplies many of the ingredients used in the kitchen, making this a villa to book for those keen to lessen their ecological footprint.
Sleeps: 24
Price: $34,757 per week
Courtesy Home In ItalyVilla Argilla, Tuscany
Picture a traditional Tuscan farmhouse, and you’ve probably imagined something similar to this. Stone arches on every doorway, wood-beamed ceilings and cool flagstones underfoot make this centuries-old farmhouse a wonderful example of the area’s distinctive architecture. With the four bedrooms set apart from the main villa in three spacious guest houses, it’s beautifully private and ideal for big group getaways. The main draw, however, is the exterior—set on a private estate of 150 hectares, the home is surrounded by manicured gardens, a huge pool, fire pit, outdoor Jacuzzi, beach volleyball court, and bocce court. Outdoor dining, under the twinkling lights of the pretty cabana, make the most of the cinematic views over olive groves and dipping hills.
Sleeps: 8
Price: $34,179 per week
Sophie KnightFor more, see our dedicated villa guides by region:
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