The Most Beautiful European Villas in Film

Hollywood has had a long love affair with the villa. And it's not just romance movies like Under the Tuscan Sun that revolve around villas. Nearly every genre, from action to comedy, has fallen under the spell of the European countryside. Many of these properties have histories just as interesting and dramatic as the movies they’re featured in, including some that have been used to hide mistresses and even a Mafia arsenal. From a minimalist house in Sweden to UNESCO world heritage sites in Italy, these villas have hosted spies, ballerinas, lovers, and even warriors from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Many of the villas can be rented, or now operate as hotels, so they could also be the backdrop to your next adventure.

Villa d’Este, Tivoli, Italy

Long before its cameos in Woody Allen’s To Rome with Love, Bruce Lee’s The Way of the Dragon, and The Lizzie McGuire Movie, the Villa d’Este was the palace of Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este. Designed by Pirro Ligorio, the palace and its spectacular Renaissance gardens were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

Villa Balbianello, Lake Como, Italy
Few locations can boast that they’ve hosted James Bond and Anakin Skywalker. Set on the Lavedo Peninsula in Lake Como, Villa Balbianello was built by Cardinal Durini in the late 18th century and was later the home of explorer Guido Monzino. The villa and its gardens were featured in Casino Royale and Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.

Villa Vignamaggio, Chianti, Italy
Settled by the Gherardini family—relatives of Mona Lisa Gherardini (yes, that Mona Lisa)—starting in the 14th century, Villa Vignamaggio is one of Tuscany’s oldest farming estates. Kenneth Branagh chose the location to serve as the backdrop to his 1993 adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

Villa Malaparte, Capri, Italy

Adalberto Libera’s dramatic modernist design for Villa Malaparte on the island of Capri was destined for the big screen. Overlooking the Gulf of Salerno from its cliffside perch, the villa is still a private residence, but architecture lovers can catch a glimpse by watching Jean-Luc Godard’s 1963 film Contempt.

Villa Necchi Campiglio, Milan, Italy
It’s hard to steal a scene from Tilda Swinton, but Villa Necchi Campiglio came close. The opulent 1930s villa, which is located in the center of Milan, was the filming location of Luca Guadagnino’s 2010 film I Am Love. Designed by Piero Portaluppi, the villa was later remodeled in the 1950s by Tomaso Buzzi.

Villa Laura, Cortona, Italy
Villa Laura is a picturesque 17th-century property outside Cortona in Tuscany. Romance fans may know Villa Laura as Villa Bramasole, its name in the 2003 film Under the Tuscan Sun. The villa was completely remodeled in 2006 and now operates as a rental property.

Villa Malfitano Whitaker, Palermo, Italy

Built by Joseph Whitaker in the late 1880s, Villa Malfitano Whitaker was a hub of Sicilian high society during the Belle Époque. Today it is a museum displaying Whitaker’s collections of art and artifacts. In 1990, Francis Ford Coppola chose the villa as one of the filming locations for The Godfather III. And the villa has its own Mafia connection. In 2009, it was discovered that the Mafia was hiding an arsenal in a cave on the property with the help of the gardener.

Villa di Geggiano, Siena, Italy
Over the course of its history, Villa di Geggiano has gone from a country cottage to a grand villa. The property, which is also home to gardens, a theater, and a working vineyard, was named a Monumento Nazionale. Filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci chose the villa for his 1996 movie Stealing Beauty, starring Liv Tyler.

Italian Villa Gives The Serene Atmosphere To Spend Your Valuable Time

If you want to experience a combination of exotic cuisine, roman architecture and renaissance art then Italy is definitely the destination for you. Italy is renowned for its wine and olive culture, pizza, pasta, palaces, roman ruins and ingrained Roman Catholic history. Italy has a myriad of opportunities for both the casual as well as the experienced traveler. Like any country with a wide and deep rooted cultural heritage, Italy is best explored on foot with ample amount of time on hand to do full justice to everything the country has to offer. Florence is one of Italy's most magnificent cities and a popular tourist destination.

Renting villas in Florence will give you enough time to explore the city at your pace and truly absorb the local culture.

Tuscany is one of the most popular areas in Italy and in the heart of Tuscany lays the city of Florence. The city of Florence pays homage to the renaissance arts with its extensive artistic influence on various architectural structures as well as variety of museums and art galleries. This city was home to famous artists like Brunelleschi, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo who have contributed greatly to the art history of Florence. With the wide array of options available in Florence it is impossible to experience it all in a day or in a rush. Rent exotic and luxurious villas in Florence to experience the city at your own pace and to take in what it has to offer.

If you are visiting Italy then you definitely cannot refuse a trip to the island of Sicily. Although Sicily is located right next to Italy, the island nation has a culture that is totally unique and has several influences of other European nations. Sicily is an autonomous region and contains of several separate provinces. If you want to experience a mix of European and African culture then Sicily has a lot to offer. Online research will help you find the ideal Sicily vacation rental villas and homes. These luxurious homes give you an opportunity to relax and thoroughly enjoy the culture of Italy.

You know you want to visit Italy this summer, but aren't sure where? Take that snapshot of your ideal location in your mind, and match it up with our descriptions. We've got all the basic info you need on traveling to our 3 top regions in Italy...

If you picture rolling hills of green and brown, vineyards and castles, you want...TUSCANY!
Tuscany is the quintessential postcard and much idealized version of Italy that most travelers picture when they think of renting a villa here. It is beautiful, to be sure, and offers so much for every kind of visitor, from history to gastronomy and leisurely activities like cycling.

Most of our villas in Italy are updated stone farmhouses located in small patches of countryside, in between smaller villages (great for exploring in the day) and within driving distance to at least one of the province's major cities, Siena and Florence. You're never far from a winery - choose Chianti if you really want to be in the heart of it - and some of our villas are even part of their own wine or olive oil estates.

The variety offered by villas in Tuscany, ranging in size and price, makes it the perfect destination if you are just not sure what you want!

If you picture dark cypress forests, lakes and crumbling medieval fortresses, choose...UMBRIA!
Umbria is Tuscany's lesser-known neighbor, similar in many ways (enchanting medieval towns? check!) but also different. A bit moodier - Umbria, in fact, means shadow - due to its thick forests, mountains and gorgeous river valleys, it is a place that feels a bit mysterious and rich.

Despite its look, Umbria offers much of the same attractions as Tuscany (the food here is even better in fact, it has been argued), usually at a lower cost. You will pay less for a villa here than one comparable in Tuscany, only due to the latter's bigger reputation. And villas in Umbria generally have the same restored farmhouse feel, which is the classic Italian style preferred by most of our guests.

If you picture the seaside, with homes tumbling down the cliff face, you want...THE AMALFI COAST!
The Amalfi Coast is a one-of-a-kind region in Italy, full of all the traditional things that make Italy a great place to visit - food, wine, culture - with a little glitz and glamor thrown in for good measure. The distinct look of this seaside province (technically called Campania) has been replicated in art and celebrated in film, but the only true way to experience it is to be there.

Our villas in the Amalfi Coast are much different from those in Tuscany and Umbria. Generally more modern, they are built on multiple levels right into the cliffside to maximize views of the Mediterranean (note - this can make the Amalfi Coast a poor choice for people with mobility issues). The trade off for these mind-blowing panoramas is usually land acreage, as Amalfi Coast villas lack the green space defined by Tuscan farmhouses. Guests are, however, generally within just a few minutes of the town, with all its restaurants and nightlife, so this region is great for night owls!

Experience The Holiday Of A Lifetime With A Luxury Italian Villa

The Italian Villa has become the epitome of luxury in the current scenario. This is even considered as a fairytale vacation by the travelers. These villas are exquisitely looking good and are constructed with marvelous engineering styles. There are many parts of Italy which house the most exquisite villas in the country. The tourists can pack their bags and head straight to Italy to stay in such villas without inking a doubt. There are several native places in Italy housing some of the beautiful villas such as Taormina, Giovanni Verga, Gesualdo Bufalino, Sicily, Vincenzo Bellini. The architectural style will be at its best in these parts of the country.

The tourist destinations here draw millions of visitors from various parts of the globe. If you think you have reasonable amount of budget to spend for your stay, villas are the perfect locations to spend your time. A dream house will give you all the comforts which you would not have heard or thought about in your life time. Italian Villa gives the serene atmosphere to spend your valuable time in a peaceful manner. The villa in Italy is designed with utmost perfection with lovely patterns and designs. They are intricately designed depicting the culture and civilization of the locals.

The Italian Villa will provide you with the ultimate comfort that is in compliance with the modern trends and facilities. These types of accommodation spots are bit expensive than the traditional ones. Let's look at some of the hotspots in Italy where you can find villas.

We all love going on holiday, however it can often be a frustrating and difficult task to find the right one for you. You may think you have booked the holiday of your dreams, with a tranquil poolside, fine food and drink and luxury accommodation, only to be greeted with a crowded, noisy pool area, repetitive meals and a basic room with broken air con unit. We've all been there. This year why not take the stress and worry out of holiday planning and rent a Luxury villa rental.

Every holiday needs a stop of luxury. Let's face it the main reason we take a holiday is to get away from it all, treat ourselves and have fun. Italy has some of the world's most stunning locations, from the gorgeous Tuscan countryside to the historic cities of Rome and Pisa. If the beach is a must have on your holiday, Italy also has some incredible coastline destinations, such as Sorrento and Positano and the Italian Isles of Sicily and Sardinia.

You could experience these amazing destinations in a luxury 5 star villa. Escape the crowded and busy tourist areas and opt for accommodation that is completely private, with stunning views. Just picture it, soaking up the sun beside your private pool, sipping a cocktail brought to you by your own butler. Experiencing Italy's beautiful sites will be easy with your own chauffeur to drive you round before your delicious moonlit dinner made by your own chef. Worrying about those awful holiday photos is certainly no longer on the agenda with your personal stylist, makeup artist and personal trainer always available. And you can forget expensive spa treatments soaking up all your spending money, as your personal masseuse also comes with your luxury villa rental.

With the beautiful sites Italy has to offer, the European country is becoming a more and more popular choice for weddings. The Amalfi coast is a popular option for a beautiful beach wedding, with several churches and historical villas offering terraces with gorgeous scenery overlooking the sea. For a countryside wedding you could opt to get married in a Tuscan village, surrounded by poppy and sunflower fields and filled with olive trees around the medieval buildings. Many luxury villas can also feature your own personal wedding planning, always available to help take the stress out of planning your special day, allowing you to sit back and enjoy your celebration. Larger villas can also often accommodate up 24 people, meaning you won't have to worry about your friends and family having somewhere to stay.

If you're looking to book a family holiday, there's no doubt your children will have endless fun with the indoor and outdoor swimming pools and your own private beach. Many people don't necessarily associate Italy as a place for children, as it is known for its historical sites, museums and beautiful scenery. However, Italy also has several amusement parks, zoos and aquariums for the little ones to enjoy. Your visit to Italy can also be a learning experience for your children with the many museums and historical sites all over the country. In Rome you can also enjoy the once in a lifetime experience of swimming with dolphins, as the city has its own dolphinarium offering swimming experiences and entertaining, playful shows. Many luxury villas also come with a nanny services, allowing you to enjoy evenings out in the many bars and nightclubs Italy has to offer.