Italy

Subterms

    Latest story

    175 Shares169 Views

    You Can Rent the Lake Como Cottage from Amazon’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith IRL

    by

    In Amazon‘s adaptation of the 2005 blockbuster film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, John (Donald Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine) jet off to Italy’s Lake Como for an extraction mission. Now, if you want to make like a couple of spies in an arranged marriage, you can book the same lakeside cottage that the faux-couple stayed in in the limited series. 

    Nestled on the picturesque Faggeto Lario shoreline, the charmingly unfussy, and spectacularly sited rental property is known as The Writer’s Nest and actually dates back to the 1800s. Built within a stone quarry, the centuries-old hideaway is where author Giuseppe Guin famously penned his novels (hence the name). Altogether, the nearly 1,300-square-foot spread comprises three bedrooms and two bathrooms and begins at just shy of $860 per night.  

    [embedded content]

    “At the bottom of the quarry, the overhanging rock still retains the signs of the stone quarrymen who worked there for centuries, drawing stones from the mountains to build homes and churches of Lake Como,” notes the listing. 

    The idyllic retreat is surrounded by a grassy beach and dotted with circular stepped rocks, which, according to the listing, were formerly used by “the fishermen of twaite shads and perchs.” Inside, the charming pad is filled with antiques and natural materials. Most notably, the home’s library was made from chestnut wood that is hundreds of years old. Elsewhere, the kitchen features a sink carved into granite. There are also hand-forged iron lanterns and a glass veranda that overlooks the lake. Of course, there are a slew of modern comforts too, including air conditioning, a washing machine, a dishwasher, and Wi-Fi.  

    You can rent the Lake Como house from episode 5 of Prime Video’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

    David Lee/Prime Video

    If you’re up for exploring the grounds, the property features a barbecue area, an outdoor dining table, and sunbeds for lounging. The Writer’s Nest can only be accessed by boat, and a private transfer can be arranged during your stay. 

    In the streamer reboot, which hit Prime Video in February, two secret agents who have never met are brought together in an arranged marriage as Mr. and Mrs. John and Jane Smith. Every week, the duo must complete a high-risk mission while also navigating a budding romance between them. Since the eight-episode show premiered last month, web searches for travel to Lake Como have increased by a whopping 36 percent, according to HomeToGo. The trend marks a similar phenomenon to what occurred after viewers tuned into seasons one and two of The White Lotus. 

    Authors

    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, dining, travel and topics…

    Read More More

    More stories

    • 150 Shares139 Views

      in Luxury

      Bill Gates Just Dropped $60 Million on a Castle in Northern Italy

      by

      Bill Gates is now the king of his very own castle.

      The Microsoft co-founder purchased the famous Castello di San Giorgio in Italy’s Liguria region for approximately $60 million, Il Secolo XIX first reported. According to the local newspaper, Gates bought the historic property through his Four Seasons real estate company, meaning there’s a chance that the tech billionaire turned hotelier could turn the building into a luxury resort.

      The fortress-like structure was used for military defense during the Roman Times because of its elevated position; however, it was later abandoned, The Daily Mail reported. After a British diplomat scooped the place up some decades later, it was converted into the luxury villa seen today. Also known as Portofino Castle, the ancient European spread measures 12,917 square feet, and it even sports an elevator that will bring you directly down to the beach.

      Bill Gates reportedly bought a castle in Northern Italy for $60 million

      Kevin Britland/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

      Portofino, which is perched on Italy’s northwest coast, has long been a popular hideaway for jet setters, entrepreneurs, and celebs. Fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana famously have villas there, while Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Bezos, and Jennifer Lopez have all visited the colorful fishing village, not to mention it’s where Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker got married at Villa Olivetta.

      This isn’t the first time that Gates has added an Italian property to his impressive $170 million real estate portfolio. In 2021, Gates’s private equity firm, Cascade Investment, bought a majority stake in the Four Seasons Hotel chain from Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal in a $2.2 billion deal. Four Seasons was subsequently awarded a contract for a new resort in Rome, located within a 17th-century palazzo right by St. Peter’s Basilica and the Spanish Steps, which will become the city’s first six-star hotel. More

    • 163 Shares169 Views

      in Luxury

      George Clooney Is Definitely Not Selling His Lake Como Villa. Or Is He?

      by

      Is George Clooney saying arrivederci to his longtime Lake Como estate? 

      Well, not if you ask him. Rumors have been circulating that the 62-year-old actor is offloading the iconic Villa Oleandra. However, the Ocean’s Eleven star recently assured People that any speculation of a sale is false. “The first I heard of it was when Page Six published the story. Everyone picked it up. It’s not true,” Clooney told the outlet via a rep. Sorry to disappoint.  

      It all started earlier this month when a source close to the ER actor told Page Six that the famous villa in Laglio was on the market sotto voce for an eye-watering €100 million ($107 million), which is about 10 times the $10 million he paid for the place back in 2002. “It’s very quiet. No advertising. No press—just high net worth [prospective buyers],” they said. Then, just last week, real estate agent Yasemin Baysal, owner of Engel & Volkers Lago di Como, told Italy’s Oggi magazine that Clooney was definitely parting ways with his pad of over 20 years and that the spread might even have a buyer.  

      “Rumors were also circulating in past years, but this time it’s true. An agency in Milan is following the sale. I can’t reveal which one. Since we have a certain type of clientele, someone has already called us,” Baysal explained to the publication. “In particular, one customer is very interested. We have started all the necessary checks before submitting a possible offer.”

      George Clooney has denied reports that he’s selling his 18th-century villa on Italy’s Lake Como.

      GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

      Even though the agent swears it’s true, the two-time Oscar winner has since denied her statement. Oggi also reported that the reason for the rumored sale is because his lawyer wife, Amal Clooney, prefers to spend time in Provence, where the couple owns the 425-acre wine estate Domaine du Canadel.  

      The 18th-century residence is one of the largest lakeside homes in the area and comprises a whopping 25 rooms, plus a swimming pool, a private gym, a movie theater, a basketball court, and two boat docks. Villa Oleander had previously been owned by the late billionaire condiment heir John Heinz and his wife Teresa; it was Heinz’s heirs who sold the property to Clooney. 

      According to The Wall Street Journal, homes in the prime waterfront villages along Lake Como are going for twice as much compared to the area’s landlocked properties, mainly because single-family homes on the shore of the pristine lake rarely hit the market. That means, no matter the asking price, if and when Clooney does decide to part ways with his famous villa, we can probably expect a bidding war.   More

    • 113 Shares99 Views

      in Luxury

      Stunning AI Designed Home In Lake Como, Italy (PHOTOS)

      by

      This stunning AI-designed lakefront home, set in Lake Como, Italy, was designed by Instagram account @aiforarchitects. /* custom css */ .tdi_8.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_8 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_8.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_8.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_8.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } More

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Vacation Homes

      Luxury Homebuyers Are Turning the Historic Properties of Puglia Into Modern Mansions

      by

      While fans of The White Lotus continue to flock to Sicily for a set-jetting adventure, wealthy homebuyers have a different region of southern Italy on the brain: Puglia.  

      For those who haven’t been to the heel of the boot, the area is most famous for its traditional stone huts known as trulli, which are strewn across hilltop villages. Elsewhere, rustic, fortified farms called masserias dot the countryside. Today, both types of historic structures are being scooped up by a new crop of luxury property shoppers and reimagined as upscale residences with modern amenities, The Wall Street Journal reported.  

      With demand, however, comes rising prices. Currently, the median price per square foot in Puglia is about $121. In Valle d’Itria, where hotel rates can reach $26,585 a night during peak season, home prices have jumped 9.2 percent within the past year. Currently, a masseria that was overhauled by a famous Italian actor is on the market for $1.72 million. Meanwhile, two brothers from the Bay Area shared with the WSJ their plans for a two-acre compound. The pair, along with their partners, purchased the 3,000-square-foot home last year for $355,000 and estimate they’ll shell out around $320,000 in renovations between the four of them.  

      Wealthy homebuyers in Italy are reimagining stone huts and fortified farms into luxury residences.

      Michele Bella/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

      Similarly, Paolo Colombo, an architect from Switzerland, doubled down on two hilltop trullis and purchased them for a combined $1.94 million. Afterward, he spent $2.16 million on a full-scale makeover and plans to add a yoga studio and outdoor sleeping areas. Did we mention Helen Mirren also owns property here?  

      Over in Salento, a 6,500-square-foot masseria was the most expensive sale of 2022, fetching a cool $3.7 million. If a 12-bed, revamped castle happens to be at the top of your bucket list, you can nab one close by for $3.56 million. Ellen Bonaventura, a retired New York attorney, added a rundown Salento palazzo to her real estate portfolio almost a decade ago. Since moving to Puglia, she recalls dropping nearly $500,000 on real estate, an additional $3.22 million on remodeling fees, plus $537,000 on local furnishings, antiques, and artwork. “It was always my dream to have a house in Italy,” she told the WSJ.  

      Part of the draw is that Puglia has become increasingly easier to get to, reachable either by high-speed train or two different international airports. Of course, another benefit is living in a literal European paradise.    More

    • 150 Shares119 Views

      in Vacation Homes

      Americans Are Flocking to Italian Wine Country to Buy Their Second Homes

      by

      Having a second home sounds nice. Having a second home in one of Italy’s famed wine regions sounds even nicer.

      Many Americans would seem to agree with that statement. Those looking to buy second homes are flocking to Piedmont, the home of Barolo, according to The Wall Street Journal. Diletta Giorgolo Spinola, the head of residential sales at Italy Sotheby’s International Realty, estimates that the number of Americans asking about the area had jumped about 50 percent at her agency over the past two years alone.

      Along with its reputation in the wine world, Piedmont was instrumental in the creation of the slow-food movement, and it’s a major area for the hunting and buying of white truffles. That makes it an especially appealing area to buyers with a strong interest in food and drink.

      Some are even intrigued by the idea of having their own vineyard. Luca Stroppiana of Langhe Real Estate told the WSJ that vineyards are the new must-have for second-home buyers. He helped facilitate the sale of a $510,000 farmhouse with one to an American couple mainly living in Milan. “We like to drink wine,” said Bryony Bechtold, who bought the property with her husband. “And now we will learn all about the different grapes and how making wine works.”

      At Langhe Property, Americans are actually the No. 1 demographic, beating out the British. And an architect in the area told The Wall Street Journal that Americans are now the majority of her foreign customers. It doesn’t hurt that the US dollar is quite strong, and that the pandemic has allowed for flexibility as to where people can live and work.

      While enjoying the Italian countryside for a few weeks or months at a time does sound great, the Journal didn’t note how locals feel about the influx of out-of-towners. That’s been an issue in other international locales, like Mexico City, where residents became fed up with American tourists and remote workers earlier this year.

      Still, the possibility of animus isn’t turning off the Piedmont-curious. A couple from Kansas who have been visiting Italy for 50 years are gearing up to move the region next year—and even more home buyers seem likely to join them. More

    • 188 Shares189 Views

      in Luxury

      Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi Just Dropped $70 Million on a Santa Barbara Compound

      by

      Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi recently added yet another multimillion-dollar property to their real estate portfolio—and this time, it set a record. The couple’s newest California compound cost them a whopping $70 million, making it the most expensive deal in the history of Santa Barbara County. 

      DeGeneres and de Rossi’s side-by-side properties sit atop an oceanside bluff in Carpinteria and total about 10 acres. The two adjacent parcels are divided into a three-and-a-half-acre Tuscan-inspired farmhouse and a larger landscaped lot with open lawns and a small lake, reported Dirt. Together they dropped $41.7 million on the mansion and another $28.2 million on the mostly vacant land next door. The compound also includes its own private trail that leads to the beach down below.

      The opportunity to scoop these up comes from seller and retired hedge fund manager Bruce Kovner, who put his 22-acre oceanfront site on the market. Known as the Sanctuary at Loon Point, the property consists of two homes and three lots of land on Padaro Lane. DeGeneres and de Rossi now own one of those abodes, plus a parcel.  

      [embedded content]

      Their stone-clad estate has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms spread across three levels and an impressive 9,066 square feet. Given its Italian influence, there are stone archways, exposed wood-beam ceilings, marble detailing and mosaic tiling throughout. Of course, the pad also has custom copper gutters and bronze windows and doors that were imported from Italy, reported Architectural Digest. Outside, there are Renaissance-style statues and olive trees akin to what you’d see in Tuscany and the roof has been constructed from terracotta. 

      Elsewhere, the great room is outfitted with a massive antique marble fireplace, and nearby, the chef’s kitchen has been decked out with state-of-the-art appliances, dual butler pantries and a large center island. There’s also a wine cellar and a swanky movie theater with leather recliners on the first floor. Upstairs, the primary suite sports two walk-in closets and a private spa terrace that overlooks the grounds. Speaking of which, the compound comes with a marble and mosaic-tile swimming pool, an outdoor kitchen and raised garden beds. In terms of entertainment, we’re sure DeGeneres and de Rossi will put the extra spa, several fire pits and a few alfresco dining areas to good use.    More

    • 225 Shares189 Views

      in Vacation Homes

      Better Than a Hotel? You Can Now Buy Shares in Multiple Homes Around Europe to Travel in Comfort

      by

      Mélie and Nico Dunod spent years helping clients acquire and renovate vacation homes throughout Europe. Traveling between France, Spain and Italy, they realized how limiting owning one home can be, especially with so many beautiful destinations to discover. This mindset inspired August Collection, a co-ownership model that allows you to own the equivalent of 1/21 of five homes in five different destinations in Europe.

      Founded in 2018, August was built on the idea that the average owner spends just 35 days in their vacation homes per year, and the home sits empty for roughly 11 months.

      Chamonix is a popular year-round destination for outdoor lovers.

      August

      “The more we assisted clients with finding their dream homes, we realized that owning a single holiday home outright in Europe was very limiting, wasteful and full of dichotomies,” says Mélie. “Similarly, no one wants to spend such significant amounts of money on a property they will use for only a few weeks a year, yet they want a home they will be proud of and that is at least as comfortable as their primary residence. We created a model where you own not one but multiple homes in Europe’s best locations, homes all renovated to the highest standards where every single detail is thought through, and for a fraction of the price of buying one home.”

      The homes are designed to exacting standards.

      August

      August has a variety of collections, including the Premium, Signature and Pied à Terre Collections, that offer varying home sizes and destinations for 1/21 ownership. There are also single-family homes with 1/8 ownership offerings. A new line is typically launched yearly; for example, buying into this year’s Premium Collection (the largest property option with four or five bedrooms) gives you access to abodes in the French Alps, French Riviera, Mallorca, Tuscany and the English Countryside for $630,000 (€600,000). The Signature Collection usually offers the same destinations for a smaller home at a lower price. There’s also the Pied à Terre Collection with residences in Cannes, Barcelona, Paris and Rome.  

      Unlike timeshares, you can sell your shares of the homes on the traditional real-estate market and transact its shares like you would any other home. If you want to sell, August can handle sourcing another buyer to purchase your piece of the pie. Also unlike a timeshare, you’ll have real title ownership with appreciation of value. Each home is 100 percent owned by you and your fellow landowners, not August; however the company will manage every aspect of the home, from maintenance to dealing with local taxes and laws to designing the new properties.

      A home in Barcelona.

      Pete Helme Photography

      August also has a point-based booking system that lets you equitably choose the weeks you’d like to spend in the homes. Bookings are released in three batches, with super-peak weeks being the first batch. You can plan a year in advance or book spontaneous trips if your points allow. While in the summer months, destinations such as the South of France are the most popular, August aims to combine buyers who might be interested in the homes at different times of the year. You can also purchase multiple shares in one collection—up to four—to increase the amount of time you’re spending in each location. There’s also a monthly fee that covers utilities and cleaning. 

      There are multiple collections to choose from.

      August

      The Dunods have more than 30 years of real estate and interior-design experience. When they purchase a home, each is planned to exacting standards with a high-end slant to ensure the best product offering. In terms of destinations, the duo choose locations based on proximity to international airports, year-round offerings and places that have strong and stable real-estate markets and luxury home offerings. 

      “When you rent, you need to plan in advance: How many bedrooms do I need, do I want to invite guests? This often leads to people holidaying less,” Mélie says. “With August, families have guaranteed homes that they want to go to, and the common feedback is people spend many more holidays together and the kids are eager to join.” More

    • 88 Shares159 Views

      in Luxury

      Stunning Lakefront Estate In Como, Italy (PHOTOS)

      by

      Exterior

      Listed with  of Italy Sotheby’s International Realty
      LOCATION: Como, Italy
      SQUARE FOOTAGE: 26,909
      BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS: 7 bedrooms & 17 bathrooms
      PRICE: N/A
      This stunning lakefront estate is located in Como, Italy and is situated on nearly an acre of land with incredible views. More