Italy is a gorgeous land with a romantic language and unbeatable food, so it’s not surprising that so many people want to live, work and retire there. That even includes celebs, and if you decide to buy a house in Italy, you’ll be in good (and distinguished) company.
George Clooney
Handsome George is probably the most famous resident of Lake Como, one of the most exclusive Italian areas, where he notably owns a 22-room villa overlooking the beautiful lake that he bought for 10 million dollars.
Sir Richard Branson
Also enjoying the calm luxury of Lake Como is the British billionaire founder of Virgin, although he has properties all over the world. As well as Clooney, Richard can count Muse lead singer Matt Bellamy among his neighbours.
Madonna
The world’s favourite Material Girl has a house in fair Verona, the city where ‘Romeo & Juliet’ sets its scene, but then again, where in the world doesn’t Madge have a house?
Leonardo DiCaprio
Romeo & Juliet star Leo also has a pad in Verona city centre, overlooking the Arena. It’s not clear how often he goes there, though, as the Titanic actor is very environmentally conscious, and probably wouldn’t want to bring the private jet over from LA too much.
Jonny Depp
Another Hollywood megastar who bought himself a house in Italy while filming in Europe was Jonny Depp, who decided to get a 10-million-dollar apartment on Venice’s Grand Canal while filming ‘The Tourist’ with Angelina Jolie. The house is called Palazzo Donà Sangiantoffetti and it comes with its own private yacht mooring for easy access.
Dame Helen Mirren
The esteemed British actress also owns a property in Italy, and abandoned farmhouse in Salento that she converted into a gorgeous villa, surrounded by an olive grove and a vineyard, somewhat akin to the plot of her film ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’.
Francis Ford Coppola
It’s really no surprise that the ‘Godfather’ director should have fallen so deeply in love with Italy, having spent so much time there and having Italian roots himself. The filmmaker owns a house in the small village of Bernalda in Matera, Basilicata. It is no longer his main residence, but a functioning hotel, and his famous daughter Sofia even got married there in 2011.
Mick Hucknell
No list of superstar celebs who live in Italy would be complete without everyone’s favourite red-headed crooner. The Simply Red frontman has a gaff in Catania, Sicily, where he produces and sells wine under his own label, ‘Il Cantante’ (‘The Singer’). It’s unclear whether Mick sells whites and rosés… or simply reds!
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When you think of Italian desserts, your mind probably jumps straight to Tiramisù, a creamy Panna Cotta, or maybe a scoop of Gelato. They're certainly famous for a reason, but the world of Italian sweets, or dolci, goes so much deeper than the usual suspects. So let's skip the big names this time and explore the top Italian desserts you haven't tried.
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When you think of the most popular dessert in Italy, it's easy for tiramisù and gelato to steal the show. But Italy has a deep love for chocolate, and its dolci often showcase it in a way that’s wonderfully rich and not overly sweet. It's the intense flavour of the cocoa that really shines, making for some pretty unforgettable cakes, puddings and biscuits.