‘The most beautiful house in Africa,’ an Arijiju fan declares. The company describes it as ‘partly sculpted into the rock-bed of a Kenyan hillside, its subtle entrance [opening] into a fragrant, greened space with generous Swahili curves and an air… Read More

Bleu Rama is one of the chicest villas in the St Tropez area. Nestled in the discreet neighbourhood of Ramatuelle in the Quesine district, it overlooks the Bay of Pampelonne, one of the most beautiful bays of the Côte d’Azur…. Read More

Ca’ Nablaya is defi ned by total privacy, which is why it appeals to VIPs who need time out of the spotlight. If a tranquil rural family house is what you want, you need to look no further. This large… Read More

Helena Bay Lodge lies among North Island’s stunning landscapes, steeped in Maori culture. This luxury lodge is a gem waiting to be discovered, with miles of pristine coastline, private beaches and intimate bays. The 800 acre property offers many activities… Read More

Popular with ambassadors and diplomats on holiday, La Bomba is a fabulous, classic rustic-chic French farmhouse in the heart of Languedoc countryside, about an hour from Toulouse airport. The fi rst thing you’ll notice is how enormous the property really… Read More

A beautifully renovated luxurious Provençal villa near Opio, La Maison Blanche sits on a hilltop with views across the Mediterranean. This chic property sleeps 18, and has fantastic views of surrounding countryside. There is an infi nity pool, a choice… Read More

Dubbed the ‘Italian Hogwarts’, a stay at this period palazzo opens your eyes to the picturesque hills and valleys of Umbria, one of Italy’s hidden gems. Nestled in the medieval hamlet of San Gemini, once a Roman settlement, the setting… Read More

The Son Bunyola estate, about a 40-minute drive from the airport in Palma, covers 680 acres of stunning landscape on Mallorca’s north-west coast. Central to the estate is a large manor house providing a historic centrepiece to the dramatic scenery…. Read More

Villa Ammende, an historic grand mansion, was built in 1905 in the classically decadent Art Nouveau style. The stately ambience of the Great Hall is breathtaking, with its carefully restored decor, antique chandeliers and grand fi replaces. Staircases lead up… Read More

Originally a farmhouse built in 1680 on the ruins of an Etruscan settlement, Villa Cetinale was transformed into a Roman Baroque villa for Pope Alexander VII. The villa and gardens, said to be the most beautiful in Italy, were extensively… Read More

‘Stepping into Villa Sola Cabiati means stepping into a story fi lled with art, architecture and the aristocratic art de vivre,’ says Grand Hotel Tremezzo, which recently acquired one of Lake Como’s most beautiful villas from the nobles of Lombardy…. Read More

The English owners of Villa Yeraki were among the fi rst to fall under the spell of the beauty of northeast Corfu, more than 40 years ago. Nicholas Cookson and his father, who lives in Corfu yearround, own and manage… Read More

Recommended by author Nicholas Coleridge for the ideal Greek family summer holiday, this fl agship property of Unique Villas overlooks Lourdas Bay, on the south coast of Kefalonia. Villa Zeus is a spacious, secluded residence with spectacular views of the… Read More