It’s easy to see why the world’s multi-millionaires are upping sticks for Italy. The Italians have life right. The pace is deliciously slow, the food is fresh and full of flavour, and there’s a lifetime of things to see – from ancient cities to incredible beaches.
The good news is that, whether you’re after a no-nonsense family escape or something more spettacolare, it’s not too late to get a summer slice of that famous dolce vita. For bargain hunters, the unexplored south or the Piedmont countryside is an excellent place to start; others can book into some of the world’s most stunning private homes, which often open their doors to guests during peak season.
To give you some ideas, we’ve found 15 of the best Italian villas with availability in the summer holidays.
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Great-value villas
Villa Caruso, Lombardy
The view is the star at Villa Caruso, a semi-detached villa overlooking Lake Maggiore. In the hills above the town of Luino, it’s in beautifully bucolic territory: a stream runs down one side of the house, the sound of tinkling cow bells punctuates the silence and two resident peacocks often pop up to say hello to guests. It’s very toddler-friendly too, with a pushchair, high chair and toys. Though there’s no pool, the lake has playgrounds, paddling and boat trips – all sure to please little ones.
Bookings For You offers Villa Caruso, which sleeps six, from £1,377
Villa immersed in the Green, Calabria
For real value, head south to a region that remains off the tourist trail. Calabria comes with white beaches, Greek and Roman ruins and near-empty national parks. It has some great properties too, including this whimsical hideaway, two kilometres away from the blustery beach of Punta Pellaro. Cherubs lurk in the fairytale gardens, the pool is shaded by palms and interiors are heavily nonna-influenced.
Vrbo offers Villa immersed in the Green, which sleeps six, from £1,506
Casa Clelia, Piedmont
For proper Italian countryside without the Tuscan or Umbrian prices, Piedmont is the place. Consider the 18th-century Casa Clelia, a traditional Langhe stone house complete with an al fresco dining area surrounded by greenery and easy access to nearby wineries. It has the added bonus of day trip potential to underrated Turin (1.5 hours away by car) and cute cities like Asti (50 minutes).
Vrbo offers Casa Clelia, which sleeps 10, from £1,297
Maravigghia, Sicily
It may not have a pool, but teens will love this slick beachside pad near lovely Avola in southeastern Sicily. Its long lawn, bookended by two hot tubs and accessorised with a firepit, leads straight into the bath-warm Mediterranean. Guests can use the villa’s bikes and canoe, and there are three ensuite bedrooms – so no arguing over the bathroom.
Wish Sicily offers Maravigghia, which sleeps six, from £3,398
Best for families
Villa Peppe, Puglia
All white-and-beige décor accented with raffia touches may make Villa Peppe look grown-up, but there’s plenty for kids in its gated grounds, including a gently shelving pool and an outdoor pizza oven. For adults, there’s an air-conditioned gym, and aperitivo – best enjoyed by the pool as fairy lights twinkle between the olive trees – feels wonderfully chic.
Simpson Travel offers Villa Peppe, which sleeps six, from £5,179
Villa San Biagio, Tuscany
If Tuscany’s beams, stone and wooden furniture feel overdone, consider Villa San Biagio – its modern art and contemporary furniture are the ultimate palate cleanser. Near the little village of Pozzo della Chiana, the villa is well-placed for day trips to Florence, Siena and Montepulciano. A separate cassetta makes it good for teens or grandparents, too.
Vintage Travel offers Villa San Biagio, which sleeps six, from £4,686
Trulli Selva, Puglia
It’s a shame to come to Puglia and not stay in a trullo, the whitewashed cone-shaped houses for which the region is famous. This cluster of them, near Unesco-listed Alberobello, comes with far-reaching views and a pool surrounded by straw umbrellas. As well as an outdoor kitchen for long nights under star-scattered Puglian skies, families will appreciate the facilities for children, which include football goals, table tennis and board games.
CV Villas offers Trulli Selva, which sleeps six, from £1,353pp, including flights from Gatwick
Casa Sotto, Tuscany
This ancient farmhouse’s price can be explained by its size: with five, brightly-coloured bedrooms, it can comfortably sleep ten. It’s great for big family get-togethers; a path winds through large gardens to a generous pool that’s far enough away from the house for grandparents to nap in peace, and there’s a huge dining table on a shady terrace for family lunches. Pisa and Florence are both 40 minutes’ drive away.
Bookings For You offers Casa Sotto, which sleeps 10, from £7,197
Best for friends
Villa Liberty, Sicily
The 19th-century Villa Liberty is a real showstopper on the island’s east coast, with views of Taormina’s old town from its flower-packed terrace. Interiors are romantically old-fashioned (think painted armoires, velvet sofas and antique rugs), and there’s a burgeoning garden of pine, lemon and almond trees to explore. The beach is a funicular trip away.
Oliver’s Travels offers Villa Liberty, which sleeps six, from £6,798
Rio Rosso, Emilia-Romagna
Perched in the Bolognese hills on a regenerated farming estate, Palazzo di Varignana draws wellness-seeking hotel guests. But as well as the hotel, there are six private villas dotted around its 650 hectares. Rio Rosso is one, hidden away in a private garden with its own hot tub. Guests can also use the resort’s excellent restaurants and spa, as well as its tennis and padel courts. Bologna is a 30-minute drive away.
Palazzo di Varignana offers Rio Rosso, which sleeps eight, from £8,942
Villa Le Volte, Le Marche
Overlooked Le Marche is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets – and this revamped 17th-century hunting lodge is a fantastic base from which to discover it. Inside, four apartments can be hired in their entirety for up to 18 guests, while outside, there are far-reaching views of the Adriatic from the villa’s glorious infinity pool. Let the kids play in the garden while you fire up the pizza oven, or head out along the trails of Monti Sibillini National Park.
Italy Charme offers Villa Le Volte, which sleeps 18, from £9,496
Best for a special occasion
Castiglione Ugolino, Umbria
If you are travelling with a big group, why not swap a villa stay for a castle? This one, complete with adjoining church, looks more like a national monument than a place to stay. Inside, however, it’s been simply but beautifully furnished and feels comfortable rather than stuffy. The hosts can organise wine tastings, day trips and spa treatments – that’s if you can bear to leave the infinity pool, which is especially wonderful as the sun dips behind the surrounding hills.
Villa Collective offers Castiglione Ugolino, which sleeps 20, from £27,000
Ca’ di Lista, Veneto
Ace the holiday photos with a stay at Ca’ di Lista, a remarkable 16th-century hunting lodge in the hills near Venice. Designed by Renaissance man Dario Variotari and making an appearance in Al Pacino’s version of A Merchant of Venice, it comes with colonnaded terraces, artfully painted walls and six hectares of parkland. To really go all out, ask the company’s concierge to organise an in-villa wine tasting or a classic car to drive through the surrounding countryside.
Tuscany Now & More offers Ca’ di Lista, which sleeps 10, from £17,838
Cargiu, Sardinia
Sardinia is new to The Thinking Traveller for 2026 and they’ve sourced a bumper crop of properties. Among them is Cargiu, a Sardinian hideaway perched high on a rocky outcrop above the golden sand of Santa Margherita di Pula. It’s so high, in fact, that you can see the peaks of the Sulcis mountains, too. Spotless floor-to-ceiling glass windows mean you can immerse yourself in the incredible landscape.
The Thinking Traveller offers Cargiu, which sleeps eight, from £15,997
Villa Azzurra, Capri
Capri was the playground of many 1960s starlets but, sadly, this newly renovated house has come a little too late – it would have been their ultimate party pad. Carved into the cliffs, it has marine blue chandeliers and plenty of columns, while its terraces tumble down the hillside towards the pool in a crescendo of marble bars and outsized sun umbrellas. It’s a place for sipping cocktails by the pool in a designer swimsuit.
Manfredi Hotels offers Villa Azzurra, which sleeps six, from around £7,000 per night
* Prices are for a week in the school summer holidays, unless otherwise stated. All villas had availability during summer at the time of writing