What do you look for in a family villa? Depending on your own family and their interests, it might be one of our luxury villas in Tuscany with a private pool. Or a choice from among our villa rentals with chef. Or one of our villas near Florence or Montepulciano villas. It could be a Tuscan villa near a village, near a beach, or one with a super-short transfer from Pisa Airport, if you have travel sickness-prone little ones.
Below are just a few of our favourites from the portfolio of villas in Italy to rent. Each is perfect for a family somewhere. We know, because families who stay there, tell us.
The villa with a really short transfer from Pisa Airport: Villa Prosperina
Sleeps: up to 10
Villa Prosperina is a beautiful period villa, once the manor house of the charming village of Filettole.
Why? Not just a 10-mile transfer from your flight, also a heated pool and hot tub, air-conditioning, and the Leaning Tower and beaches within 20-minutes, plus it’s easy to walk to the village of Filettole, where there are bars, restaurants, a supermarket and a bakery.
The villa near a great beach: Ciclopica
Sleeps: up to 12
The villa at night overlooking the coast
Why? Facilities are superb — heated, illuminated pool, panoramic terrace, playroom, sat TV, gym, sauna, billiards, ping-pong and table football tables. Tuscany’s best beach, the Tombolo di Feniglia near Porto Ercole, is a few minutes away by car.
The villa with loads of rooms for a very big family: Estate of Petroio
Sleeps: up to 30
The Estate Of Petroio, Rufina is 7km/4 miles away, near Florence. Tuscany.
Why? A huge property suited to large or multiple families, Petroio has 2 private pools, billiards, private tennis court and table tennis table, and acres (literally) of room to spread out on the estate. We can arrange pizza-making and family cooking classes.
The villa with a tree house: Poggio al Mare
Sleeps: up to 8
Poggio al Mare sits perched on a hill top with stunning views over the Val di Chiana countryside to the south Montepulciano.
Why? In the huge grounds of a 12th-century estate, this villa is easy to divide into private apartment-style areas for multiple families or generations travelling together. We can arrange on-site lessons in swimming (private pool) or tennis (private court).
The villa a short walk from the village centre: Santi Terzi
Sleeps: up to 20
This stunning period palazzo, once home to Canova, the neoclassical sculptor, is set in San Gemini.
Why? The Sunday Times called it “an Italian Hogwarts”: sculptor Canova’s old home has a partly covered private pool terrace and a tower you can climb for a unique panorama. The main square of San Gemini is seconds away on foot.
The villa with a large pool and its own spa: Il Chiesino
Sleeps: up to 10
Il Chiesino, charming hilltop retreat near the Maremma coast. Tuscany.
Why? There’s a large heated pool and hot tub with plenty of shaded seating under a veranda, plus an outdoor BBQ, an outdoor spa pool and a steam room/sauna. Teen-friendly shopping in Grosseto is close by.
The villa with a swimming pool, tennis court and a pool table: Casalta
Sleeps: up to 7
Casalta the farmhouse has been in the same family as the rest of the estate for generations, in all five hundred years
Why? As well as those facilities and a garden planted with olive trees, Casalta is miles away from passing traffic. Sunset views stretch for miles over the Chianti winelands.