Italy has long attracted celebrities to its shores, whether on holiday or to purchase lavish properties. Home to expansive, centuries-old villas with luxurious amenities and historical charm, Italy allows celebrities to spend time abroad enveloped in privacy. It should come as no surprise that some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, as well as some of the world’s most legendary singers, have owned or currently own property in the country.
Take a look below at four celebrities who have properties in Italy.
George Clooney
George Clooney is perhaps the most recognizable American celebrity with a home in Italy, especially considering that part of the movie Oceans 12 was filmed at his villa. Located on the shores of Lake Como, Clooney bought the 25-room villa for €11.7 million (roughly $12.6 million) in 2002. The A-list celebrity spends time at Villa Oleandra each year, but once threatened to leave and sell the property when the town considered adding a parking lot near the property so that fans could catch a glimpse of him. The proposed invasion of his privacy and his threat to leave brought an end to the town’s parking lot proposal.
Sting
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, more commonly known as Sting, was the frontman, songwriter, and bassist for the rock band The “Police” from 1977 until 1986. The singer and his wife had been living in Tuscany for years and purchased Palagio, a 16th-century noble villa in 1997. Located roughly 45 minutes outside of Florence, the villa has olive groves, vineyards, manicured gardens, a pool, a tennis court, and more.
Leonardo DiCaprio
The Oscar-winning actor has a luxurious penthouse in Verona, the northern city that was the setting for Shakespeare’s star crossed lovers play “Romeo and Juliet.” His penthouse was purchased in 2011 and is said to have a view of the Verona arena. DiCaprio actually starred as Romeo in Baz Luhrmann’s modern 1996 retelling of the story alongside Claire Danes as Juliet. However, it was reported in late 2022 that the actor sold his Verona penthouse.
Debi Mazar
The American actress, best known for her roles in “Batman Forever,” and “Goodfellas,” married Italian Gabriele Corcos in 2002. As their wedding gift, Corcos’ family gifted the newlyweds a 14th-century property located some 30 minutes outside of Florence. The rustic farmhouse once belonged to Corcos’ grandfather. Mazar, who now has Italian citizenship, and her husband, including their two young daughters, are now full-time residents of Italy.
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.