10 of the best villas in Italy with a pool

Times

3 days ago

Whether you're dreaming of golden vineyard views from a Tuscan terrace, your own briny beach house on a far-flung Sicilian island, or a cool modernist monolith on the shores of Lake Como, the one thing most of us can probably agree on when it comes to a summertime villa is that it's better with a pool. We've picked some of the best, from a curvaceous cave house with a palm-fringed infinity pool on the sands of Panarea to an architect's crisp Le Corbusier-style getaway north of Siracusa that brings the water in — plus a noble villa in the north that not only comes with three swimming spots, but a driver to transport you between them. Enjoy.
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£££ | Sleeps 8
No slapdash modern builders here: the Romans made the pool at Zu Nillu, and it has been a fixture ever since, in this labyrinthine stone quarry in the Egadi Islands off Sicily's western flank. The theatrical tufa house descends from ground level into the void, furnished with tasteful antiques and surrounded by a vibrant Mediterranean garden. Roof spaces afford jaw-dropping views over the bay of Cala Rossa, with a barbecue for long, lazy lunches. There's an alfresco bathroom out among the carob trees, and a gate from the garden to a private path that takes you down to the sea.
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££ | Sleeps 8
At the heart of a sprawling olive grove in Puglia, Tenuta Fonte reminds you that the deep roots of the south are as Greek as they are Roman. Yet the interiors of this neat white cube are all Italian in style, with mid-century classic furnishings and bold colours the backdrop to your stay. The saltwater pool is just one highlight in the secluded grounds: there's also an outdoor kitchen, pick-your-own vegetable garden and plenty of shady spaces to eat and lounge. The sandy beach at Torre Canne is ten minutes away by car.
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£££ | Sleeps 12
Nowhere in Italy is a rental more likely to break the bank than Capri, but if you're in the market for an off-season oasis with views out across the Tyrrhenian Sea from its smart little pool, Villa Platani is 'The One'. Glued dramatically onto the cliffside, this modernist 12-bedder is an exercise in restrained luxe — all white linen, bleached wood and basketweave within, bougainvillea, roses and jasmine on the terraces without. A private funicular connects you to La Piazzetta, Capri's main square, for the ritziest passeggiata you'll ever see, and a chef is available on request to add to the sense of occasion.
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££ | Sleeps 20
Halfway between Florence and Siena, in the sleepy Val di Pesa, Villa Chiantisol offers the classic Tuscan dream: a vast honey-stone farmhouse at the end of a sloping drive, with lush green hills and low vineyard terraces as far as the eye can see. Interiors are a cool mix of traditional terracotta, oak and linen — the decorator got funky with the bedroom finishes — but it's the outside spaces that thrill. A knockout sunken pool and Jacuzzi promise lazy afternoons in the sun, while a series of smart loggias offer far-reaching views and some welcome afternoon shade.
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£££ | Sleeps 10
A brand-new lakefront build on Como's western shore, Villa Audace is a stunner. This modern five-bedroom masterpiece has all the design boxes ticked: wraparound windows, timber cladding, poured-concrete floors, stainless-steel kitchen and classic furnishings from the school of Poltrona Frau. From the waterside infinity pool you get views out to pretty Isola Comacina, while a hot tub and sauna offer alternative lounging possibilities. Extras include cookery lessons, yoga classes and spa treatments; you can order up a private chef; and a skippered boat is available to get you over to Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni on the nights you don't want to cook.
• Best hotels in Lake Como
££ | Sleeps 10
Antika has an illustrious pedigree: this curvaceous seafront villa was designed and built by architect Paolo Tilche, who created the starry Hotel Raya on this smallest of the seven Aeolian Islands back in the 1950s. In addition to three white-cube guesthouses — Cactus, Wisteria and Bougainvillea — dotted about the volcanic gardens, Antika sleeps ten, with guests sharing a series of panoramic terraces and a meandering split-level living space. The decor is typically Aeolian: lofty cane ceilings, creamy plasterwork and weathered woods embrace built-in seats and recessed beds for an atmosphere of calm and cool. The palm-fringed infinity pool gives directly onto the sea.
£££ | Sleeps 20
Less fly-and-flop, more stand-to-attention smart, Villa Sigurta, in the Veneto, boasts a liveried staff and three on-site pools — with a dedicated driver to transport you and your beach bag between them. This Palladian house — with three guest lodges — has hosted Napoleon III and our own King Charles in lavish splendour, yet the decor has a sense of fun, with trompe l'oeil frescoes and fantastical sculptures dotted about the place. Neighbouring Borghetto sul Mincio is a member of the Borghi piu Belli d'Italia — a club of Italy's most beautiful villages. It more than lives up to the billing.
tuscanynowandmore.com
£ | Sleeps 4
Six miles south of the ancient Greek city of Siracusa, Villa Gadir could not look more modernist. It's hard to see where this Le Corbusier-style build ends and the saltwater pool begins, so skilfully do the two intertwine. The open-plan living and dining areas, and two bedrooms, all open onto the water, giving this bright white box a floating Tardis feel. The villa stands 50 metres from the sea, the Plemmirio marine reserve is a five-minute drive away and Sicily's baroque highlights of Ragusa, Noto and Modica are all within easy reach.
justsicily.co.uk
££ | Sleeps 6
Part of the Borgo Smeraldo resort, Villa Fichi d'India is one of seven new rentals, each with its own private pool, in the grounds of a boutique hotel between the Sardinian hotspots of Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo. Suite-based accommodation is split between two low stone houses supported by chestnut beams — in the style of the local stazzi farmsteads — with a shared kitchen and living space styled in shades of green and grey. Guests can access the spectacular three-tier hilltop pool attached to the hotel, with views of the turquoise waters and silver sands of the Costa Smeralda nearby.
justsardinia.co.uk
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£££ | Sleeps 10
This delightfully chic retreat on the Monte Argentario coast — described as 'the new Amalfi' — is owned by the decorator to Italy's coolest crowd. Sandwiched between the workaday fishing town of Porto Santo Stefano on one side, and the absurdly glamorous Hotel Pellicano and Porto Ercole on the other, Cacciarella is a villa for those in the know. Interiors are mid-century chic, finishes of the highest quality, and the garden pool and gym provide ample workout — and relaxation — opportunities.
bellinitraveluniqueproperties.com
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