Villa Oleandra might be the most famous Italian villa owned by a celebrity. Located in Lagio, a small village on the shores of the glitzy Lake Como, the 18th-century property was purchased by George Clooney in 2002 for $7 million. It had previously belonged to the Heinz family, owners of the food processing company known for their famous tomato ketchup.
The luxurious 25-room villa is located just steps from the lake’s shores and features a tennis court, outdoor pool, gym, theater, manicured gardens, a large garage where Clooney reportedly stores his large collection of vintage motorcycles, and a separate pizza room because it is Italy, after all. It’s believed that the neighboring Villa Margherita was purchased around the same time as Villa Oleandra to offer the star more privacy.
Scores of A-list celebrities have stayed at the villa over the years, including Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon, and Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Parts of “Ocean’s 12,” the star-studded 2004 comedy heist blockbuster, were also filmed on the property, adding another layer of fame to the villa.
In 2019, Clooney and his wife Amal joined forces with Omaze, a company that partners with charities for fundraising events, to choose a winner and their plus one to fly to Italy and stay in a four-star hotel. Also included in the package deal was the opportunity to have dinner with the actor and his wife at Villa Oleandra. All proceeds from the Omaze competition were donated to The Clooney Foundation for Justice, founded by the power couple with the aim of fighting systemic injustices against journalists, women and girls, LGBTQ persons, and minorities.
Shortly after purchasing the villas, Clooney became an honorary citizen of the lakeside town. He also sits on the committee for the defense of the integrity of the lake’s banks. It is perhaps for this reason that in 2015, the mayor of Laglio laid out an ordinance that anyone who sets foot within 100 meters, roughly 328 feet, of the Clooney’s twin villas will be fined up to €500, or $535. The ordinance specified that anyone who left their car or boat within 100 meters of Villa Oleandra and Villa Margherita will have to pay the fine. A similar ordinance was laid out the year before when the couple wed in Venice in 2014.
Asia London Palomba
Asia London Palomba is a trilingual freelance journalist from Rome, Italy. In the past, her work on culture, travel, and history has been published in The Boston Globe, Atlas Obscura, The Christian Science Monitor, and Grub Street, New York Magazine's food section. In her free time, Asia enjoys traveling home to Italy to spend time with family and friends, drinking Hugo Spritzes, and making her nonna's homemade cavatelli.