Every Summer Has Its Own Mood

Some summers happen by the water. Others unfold among vineyards, gardens, and long lunches in the open air. Some call for stillness; others, for family and friends gathered around a big table.

That's why a good choice doesn't start with the question of which villa is the most beautiful. It starts with the kind of summer you actually want. Quiet or convivial. Close to the water or tucked into the landscape. Classically Mediterranean or deliberately off the beaten path. Full service or complete freedom.

Because a villa is never just a house. It shapes how the days begin, where people come together, how much solitude is possible — and how naturally a place feels like your own. Whether the morning starts with a jump into the sea, the evening ends at a long dinner table, or the whole stay is carried by that rare feeling of being exactly where you're meant to be.

The villas in this issue represent different answers to that question. Some rank among the most iconic summer destinations in Europe. Others are still waiting to be found by those who look for places with a little more intention. Together they show high summer in its many forms — iconic on Capri, raw on Pantelleria, unhurried along the Algarve, natural at Lake Garda, cultivated in Tuscany, and close to the sea in Istria.

A curated selection for those who don't just want to go somewhere — but want to find exactly the summer that's right for them.

The Timeless Elegance of Capri

Every region has its own way of living summer.

On Capri, the day often begins with a view of the sea. At Villa Azzurra, the island seems to reconcile its famous glamour with a surprising quietness. Days unfold between terraces, deep blue water, and the light of the Gulf of Naples — while come evening, the lights of the coastline slowly begin to glow in the distance.

Perhaps it's the light reflecting off whitewashed facades, the boats gliding past the Faraglioni, or that particular blend of elegance and Mediterranean ease that has defined the island for decades.

Perched above the sea, Villa Azzurra offers a retreat that perfectly captures the spirit of Capri. By day, the intense blue of the Gulf of Naples and the warm sea breeze set the rhythm. Mornings begin on the terrace with water views; afternoons drift between hidden coves, walks through the island's gardens, and long lunches in the open air.

In the evening, Capri shows a different side. Once the day visitors have left, the atmosphere that has made the island one of Europe's most coveted summer addresses for generations quietly returns. The lights along the coast begin to shimmer, temperatures soften to a pleasant warmth, and the hours between aperitivo and dinner seem to stretch on indefinitely.

Villa Azzurra brings both worlds together: the timeless elegance of Capri, and the privacy of a house that makes room for family, friends, and long summer days.

Capalbio: The Tuscany You Need to Know

When people think of Tuscany, they tend to picture gentle hills, avenues of cypress trees, medieval villages, and endless vineyards. The southern Maremma offers all of that — and something most people don't associate with the region: miles of sandy beaches, a spectacular coastline, and some of Italy's finest seaside destinations.

Villa Serafine sits just a few minutes from Capalbio, one of the most refined villages in the area. Behind the historic walls of this small hilltop town lie galleries, restaurants, and an atmosphere that has drawn artists, entrepreneurs, and Italian families for decades. Unlike many better-known parts of Tuscany, things here still feel genuinely unhurried — and refreshingly unaffected.

The region thrives on contrasts. A morning walk through the lanes of a medieval village; lunch at a winery among olive groves and vines; an afternoon swim in the sea or a boat trip along the coast toward Monte Argentario and the outlying islands of Giglio and Giannutri.

Capalbio is not the kind of place that turns up on every Tuscany list — and that's precisely the point. The southern Maremma brings together much of what makes the region so compelling: medieval villages, wineries, olive groves, long lunches, and that wide, golden landscape. And yet the sea is only minutes away.

It's that combination that makes the area so remarkable. A morning walk through Capalbio, lunch at a vineyard, an afternoon on the long sandy beaches or a day out on the water around Monte Argentario. This is a Tuscany that feels both cultivated and completely natural — less obvious than Chianti or Forte dei Marmi, and all the more interesting for it.

Villa Serafine is ideally placed to experience this quieter, more particular side of the region: close enough to the sea, close enough to Capalbio, yet set apart with the stillness of a private retreat among olive groves, vineyards, and open countryside.

The Adriatic with character

Istria is one of the few regions in Europe that has managed to hold onto its character despite growing popularity. The landscape in places recalls Tuscany; the cuisine draws on both Italian and Croatian influences; and along the coast, historic harbour towns, pine forests, and quiet coves follow one after another.

Novigrad in particular has that rare quality — Mediterranean ease without any sense of performance. Small waterfront restaurants, local markets, fishing boats in the harbour, and the unhurried pace of a genuine coastal town: this is what defines it, not spectacle.

Villa Adriatica sits just steps from the sea, pairing contemporary design with exactly that atmosphere. A house for those who want to experience the Adriatic at its most authentic — with exceptional food, constant proximity to the water, and a region that remains, to this day, more of a quiet discovery than a household name.

Just steps from the sea, Villa Adriatica pairs contemporary design with exactly that sense of ease. Clean lines, bright rooms, and generous terraces create a place where life naturally drifts outside.

The region is one of the most exciting culinary destinations in the Mediterranean. Fresh fish, truffles from the inland hills, exceptional olive oils, and some of Croatia's finest wineries are all within minutes. A morning swim, lunch at a konoba right on the water, a glass of Malvazija at sunset — Istria has a particular gift for making simple moments feel extraordinary.

Villa Adriatica is the ideal base for discovering this side of Croatia. A summer that isn't built around landmarks, but around atmosphere, authenticity, and the closeness of the sea. Which is precisely why Novigrad is the kind of place travellers stumble upon by chance — and find themselves wanting to come back to.

A Summer Among Lush Gardens, Cypresses, Palms, and the Iconic Lake

Lake Garda has its own way of showing summer. In Toscolano Maderno, the deep green of Mediterranean gardens meets palms, cypresses, mountains, and the clear blue of the water. Villa Puro sits at the heart of this landscape, embodying a closeness to nature that feels entirely effortless — simple, natural, and elegant.

A morning espresso with views over the lake, an afternoon out on the water, dinner at a table in the open air — a summer's day here needs very little to feel complete.

One of Villa Puro's most distinctive features is its lavender garden. The plants grown there are used to produce the villa's own organic cosmetics — a detail that says a great deal about the philosophy of the place. The connection to nature here isn't a concept or a selling point; it's simply how things are.

Walk through the garden and the name makes immediate sense. The soft tones of the lavender, the silvery green of the olive trees, the deep green of the cypresses, and the blue of Lake Garda merge into a landscape that looks almost like a watercolour. Scented with herbs and blossoms, the path leads through the garden toward the olive grove, with the mountains rising behind and the lake glittering in the distance.

Puro brings the beauty of this landscape together with a quiet, unassuming elegance — a reminder that the finest summers are often the simplest ones. Not spectacular, but effortless. Not staged, but real.

Villa Oltremare — Between Lava Stone, Wind, and Sea

Far from the well-worn travel routes lies Pantelleria — an island that doesn't give itself up easily, and is all the more fascinating for it. Situated between Sicily and North Africa, it feels rawer, more primal, and more mysterious than almost anywhere else in the Mediterranean. There is no smooth postcard idyll here: instead, lava stone, wind, dark rocky coastlines, natural thermal springs, small coves, and a quality of light that lends the landscape an almost archaic beauty.

Pantelleria has long been a retreat for many prominent Italians and international free spirits drawn to exactly this combination of rawness, discretion, and nature. The island is not touristy in any conventional sense. It is not a place for quick consumption — it's a place for those who value silence, open space, and the real thing.

Atlantic Light and Southern Ease

The Algarve shows summer at its most relaxed. While many travellers head straight for the well-known coastal towns, Armação de Pêra still has the feel of an authentic Portuguese fishing village — a place where life by the sea has held onto its own character.

The town sits on one of the most impressive stretches of coastline in the Algarve. Kilometres of golden sand run along the shore, framed by the region's characteristic ochre cliffs and the deep blue of the Atlantic. Even in the height of summer, there's space here to take in the breadth and quiet of this remarkable coastal landscape.

Villa Vermelho

pairs contemporary architecture with the easy-going spirit of the south. The proximity to the sea, the generous outdoor spaces, and attentive service create an atmosphere where you feel at home from the very first moment. The focus here isn't just the house itself, but the whole experience — from long breakfasts on the terrace to evenings that only really begin once the sun goes down over the Atlantic.

The Algarve has a quality of light all its own. The days feel longer, the colours more intense, and the line between inside and outside seems to dissolve. It's one of the reasons this coastline has been among Europe's favourite summer destinations for decades.

Villa Vermelho brings that natural beauty together with privacy, comfort, and a level of service that makes every stay feel effortlessly uncomplicated.

What a Good Summer Leaves Behind

As different as these places are, they share one thing: a good summer is rarely shaped by plans. More often, it comes down to the right setting — a house that fits the way you live, a landscape that changes the rhythm of your days, and moments that don't need to be arranged.

Perhaps that's the real art of travel: not to experience as much as possible, but to find the place where everything feels right for a while. The kind of place you don't just remember — but find yourself wanting to return to.

That's exactly where our work begins: understanding what kind of summer you're looking for, and finding the place that fits.

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