While Como and Maggiore draw the crowds, Lake Orta remains the quieter insider’s choice—a smaller northern Italian lake favored by those seeking discretion, character and a slower pace.

In the 1970s, a concrete “spaceship” appeared among the colourful Art Nouveau villas of Cusano Milanino, less than 30 minutes north of Milan.

Set in the hills of Valdarno, the estate’s historic buildings are linked by underground passages, internal hallways, courtyards, and gardens, and are surrounded by olive groves, Chianti DOCG vineyards, and an established agriturismo.

This restored Alpine palazzo in Craveggia, Piedmont, offers frescoed interiors and substantial private living space in a historic mountain village near the Swiss border.

One of the most iconic scenes in 007’s Casino Royale comes in the final moments of the film, when James Bond tracks Mr. White to the edge of Lake Como, where a turreted villa rises above the water like something between a castle and a stage set.

A period restoration opportunity awaits on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Behind its early 20th-century façade, the 8-bedroom residence retains frescoed rooms, stained glass, original floors, and historic cement tiles.

Villa Impero is not a typical private villa. Built in the early 1800s for the Marquis Mazzacorati, it was originally conceived as a Neoclassical reception pavilion for the nearby Villa Aldrovandi ai Camaldoli estate, with frescoed interiors designed for balls, receptions, and formal gatherings.

Set inside a historic Gothic palazzo on Campo Santo Stefano, the property is arranged as two separate residences, combining a frescoed piano nobile and an upper-level apartment with an internal loggia and an altana overlooking the city’s rooftops.

Set between Ostuni and the Adriatic Sea, within 4.3 hectares (10.6 acres) of olive groves, Masseria Dagilupi was restored in 2019 by Corsaro Architetti.

Set in the countryside outside Noto, this 19th-century farmhouse dates to 1867 and has been restored in part, with remaining structures to be completed. The property is positioned within the Val di Noto, a UNESCO-designated region in southeastern Sicily known for its Baroque towns and active agricultural landscape.