ITALY OVERVIEW

The Italian Renaissance gave the world many great works of literature, art and architecture. Luxury homes, villas and castles of Italy pay tribute to the resurgent style that created St. Peter’s Basilica and The Duomo, while remaining vibrant and vital. Palatial penthouses in Rome, lake view villas in Verona, farmhouses in the Tuscan countryside, beach homes on the island of Sardinia, cosmopolitan lofts in Venice- all examples of Italian luxury real estate and all rich in grace, just as the country and its grand history.

Italy is divided into 20 major regions, each offering their own brand of magnificence. The Lazio (or Latium) Region is home to the “Eternal City” of Rome. The boundless ferocity of the gladiators who once did battle in the Colosseum is matched by the lasting beauty of the city that now surrounds the classic landmark of Roman engineering. The Colosseum and all the remains of Ancient Rome stand as a shrine to a truly visionary society. Today, Ancient Rome, along with architecture in the Baroque and Renaissance styles, is embraced and enveloped by a city that is contemporary and cosmopolitan. Chic, luxury homes and apartments co-exist seamlessly with residences in the city’s historic enter, showing that as Rome evolves, its majesty will always remain timeless.

Located on Italy’s western coast, Tuscany is famous for its fine wine and for, well, just being Tuscany. The term “Tuscan style” is often evoked to refer to decorating and structural design that incorporates (usually faux) crumbling, rust colored walls, wrought iron accents and solid hardwood furniture. No style can truly replicate a region where the stunning beauty of the hilly landscape ripe with productive vines meets the meticulous construction of the Cities of Art- including Florence, Lucca, Pisa and Siena. Here “art” can be used broadly to describe everything from a rural sunrise painted by nature’s brilliant brushstrokes, to a masterwork by Donatello displayed at The Bargello in Florence. The same can be said of the region’s luxury real estate, where genius construction ranges from the centuries-old structures in the countryside surrounding Lucca to the elegant villas in the center of Pisa, near the Piazza dei Miracoli and Leaning Tower.

Veneto is a highly developed region of Italy, and is also one of the wealthiest. Over 13 million visitors come to Veneto each year, making it easily the most visited part of the country. Of course, many come to sit in St. Mark’s Square, float down a canal, or find other ways to drink in the grandeur of Venice. Countless authors, filmmakers, and artists have drawn inspiration from the unmatched city and used it as a backdrop for their fine works. In recent years, people have also been flocking to the city of Verona to make it their permanent home. Here, luxury homes remain steeped in the narrative of a place with a rich historic record. The city served as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and is full of stunning stone architecture in medieval style. How doth two prominent families feud so fiercely whilst surrounded by scenery such as this?

The fashionable and trend-setting Milan shines as a cosmopolitan and commercial oasis within the region of Lombardy. While Milan is experiencing an urban rebirth, and the main reason Lombardy is responsible for one-fourth of Italy’s GDP, other areas of the region also have luxuries to offer. Como is home to many famous churches and is becoming and increasingly popular tourist destination. Many celebrities have snatched up luxury real estate along the coast of picturesque Lake Como. The shores of Lake Maggiore form a part of Lombardy’s border and are the site of prestigious modern villas with stunning water vistas.

Off mainland Italy in the Mediterranean Sea is the island of Sardinia. The island is known for its beaches, with some of the most luxurious accommodations one can image found at Costa Smeralda on the northern coast. The luxury destination is popular among the elite from all of Europe and the Middle East. Many rare plant and animal species inhabit the island that is also home to an uncommon blend of luxury real estate. Golf course cottages, charming beachfront homes, waterfront villas and bucolic farms unite in a proud display of Sardinia’s outstanding appeal.