10 Celebrities With Properties or Homes in Tuscany
Have you ever thought about buying a house or a property in Tuscany? This breathtakingly beautiful part of Italy is famous for its enchanting scenery, fascinating history, world-class wines, and vibrant art scene. Located right in the heart of the country, Tuscany’s capital city is the renowned Florence. In recent times, many celebrities have opted to make Tuscany their home or properties, making it an increasingly popular destination for others to follow suit.
In this article:
Invest in Real Estate in Tuscany: houses, villas, vineyards
Tuscany is not only known for its beauty and cultural richness but has also piqued the interest of various famous personalities as an excellent investment opportunity. The wine industry is a significant driving factor that draws foreign investors to this region. As a result, many of them have invested in vineyards and started their own businesses here, further enhancing the appeal and allure of the area.
Tuscany is home to several famous wines, including Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, and Brunello di Montalcino. To illustrate their popularity, even NBA superstar LeBron James made a stop at the Monteverro winery in Capalbio, a medieval village in Grosseto, Tuscany, during his vacation in Italy. He even shared his experience on Instagram.
Tuscany is also a hub for arts, with legendary artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, and Giotto being born and inspired here. For many people worldwide, owning a home here is a dream come true.
Real estate in Tuscany is booming, with prices of castles, medieval villages, villas, and historic estates, particularly in Chianti, on the rise. Property experts estimate that there is currently between 300 and 400 million euros worth of real estate available for sale.
But how much does it cost to buy a property in Tuscany and Italy? We already answered this question in a different article that you can check out here. By the way, to summarize, the thing to know is that Tuscany is the fourth most expensive region to buy a home in 2022, per MyDolceCasa. A 2,000-square-foot property will cost an average of $470,000, around $235 per square meter.
Several notable personalities have already invested in the region, including former Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons, who purchased the estate Il Palazzone in the Brunello di Montalcino area. He has been quoted saying, “I went to France, South Africa, Australia, Napa, Italy, but Tuscany was the place that spoke to me.” Meanwhile, German gallery owner Peter Femfert also decided to purchase the Fattoria di Nittardi in Castellina in Chianti.
Recently Daou Family Estates decided to expand in the Val d’Orcia region of southern Tuscany by purchaseing a 70-hectare (173-acre) estate. Another examples are Mark and Domitilla Getty of Getty Images, whose horses have participated in some editions of the Palio di Siena in recent decades.
We selected some famous people who got a property or a house in Tuscany.
10 Celebrities With Properties or Homes in Tuscany
Sting (Musician)
In 1997, the renowned musician Sting purchased the Tenuta Il Palagio, a 16th-century estate nestled amongst the picturesque vineyards of the Chianti region. Sting has expressed his love for the estate, stating, “Il Palagio is like stepping into a painting. And one of my favorite places on Earth. I hope you fall in love with it as much as I have.”
The estate is home to around 5,700 olive trees and uses organic methods to produce high-quality olive oil and wine. Sting even named some of his wine labels after some of his most famous songs, such as “Message in A Bottle,” “Sister Moon,” and “When We Dance.”
In addition to its impressive vineyards, olive groves, and production of high-quality wine and olive oil, the Il Palagio estate also features five beautifully renovated guesthouses that are available for visitors to rent. Those interested in experiencing the charm of this breathtaking location can check the availability of the guesthouses on the official Il Palagio website.
Frances Mayes (American Novelist)
Frances Mayes is a well-known American novelist who gained fame with the publication of her memoir, “Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy” in 1986. The book, which chronicled her experience of buying and renovating an abandoned villa called Bramasole (“longing for the sun”) in Cortona, Tuscany, became a New York Times Best Seller.
In fact, her book was adapted into a film a few years later by director Audrey Wells. Today, Mayes is also the artistic director of the Tuscan Sun Festival, an annual celebration of the arts that has been named one of the top ten summer arts festivals in Europe by The Independent.
“I got to know Tuscany by studying the art and architecture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance in college. This region won my heart when I rented a country house outside Cortona. I loved rural life; after a month in the hills I knew I wanted to spend part of my life here.“, he said in an interview with the Italian outlet Corriere.it.
Alfonso Cuarón (Mexican filmmaker)
Academy Award-winning Mexican director, Alfonso Cuarón, has purchased a house in Capezzano Monte, located in the Versilia region of Tuscany.
Cuarón is best known for directing the successful film, Gravity, which starred George Clooney and won multiple Oscars, including Best Director and Best Editing in 2014. His wife, actress Annalisa Bugliani, was born in Lido di Camaiore and is familiar with the area.
John Voigtmann (Former SONY Music)
John Voigtmann, a prominent music executive from New York, made a bold life-changing decision and moved to Val d’Orcia, Pienza, with his wife. They embarked on a renovation project and transformed an abandoned farmhouse into an exquisite country house with eight rooms, which they named La Bandita.
“After ten years of chasing rock stars around the world, I decided to change my life… and together with my wife, who is a writer for several travel magazines, I spent four years searching, researching and renovating La Bandita”, he says in its official website.
Richard Gere (Actor)
Richard Gere, the renowned American actor, and recipient of numerous accolades including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in the film “Chicago” (2002), has ventured into the world of winemaking.
In collaboration with the San Filippo winery located in Montalcino, Tuscany, Gere has produced his personal line of wine, Brunello Le Lucére. This signature wine, made from the 2007 vintage of the prestigious cru Le Lucére, has received recognition from industry experts and will be available in the United States under the brand name Bedford Post, named after the actor’s 19th-century estate in Westchester Country, New York.
Richard Parsons (Businessman)
We have previously mentioned him, and we are mentioning him again. The American businessman, who was most recently the Interim Chairman of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise and Interim Chairman of the Board of CBS, acquired Il Palazzone in Tuscany in 2000.
“I decided Italy was the place for me. The countryside in Tuscany is beautiful. My favorite wine is Brunello, a big Italian red.”
Il Palazzone boasts three distinct vineyards, covering approximately 12 acres of land dedicated to vine cultivation. The remainder of the property consists of a mix of woodland and olive groves near the town of Montalcino. The soil in this area is renowned for its geological diversity.
Having landed in three different subzones of Montalcino means that the various expressions of Sangiovese, the grape that must be used 100 percent for Brunello, can be blended, resulting in one of the best red wines produced in Italy.
Louis Camilleri (Former Ferrari CEO)
Louis Camilleri, CEO of Ferrari S.p.A. and president of Philip Morris International, is one of the notable personalities who have invested in Tuscany. In 2011, he acquired “Giardinello,” a property located in the picturesque Montalcino region between Camigliano and Castelgiocondo. Interestingly, Camilleri’s partner, Natalie Oliveros, a former adult film actress, is also a winemaker who produces Brunello as the owner of La Fiorita.
Alejandro Pedro Bulgheroni (Businessman)
Alejandro Pedro Bulgheroni, an Argentine billionaire with a passion for wine, has added two Tuscan wineries to his impressive portfolio of wine estates. In addition to his existing wineries in Argentina, Uruguay, and California, Bulgheroni recently acquired Dievole, a vast Chianti Classico estate in Vagliagli, Siena, and Poggio Landi in Montalcino, Siena.
Both wineries are now managed under a coordinated administration, which is based in Dievole. The plan is to simultaneously enhance the Chianti estate’s 80 hectares of vineyards and olive groves, while also renovating Poggio Landi, which was previously owned by the Cinelli Colombini family of Fattoria dei Barbi. The production manager for both wineries is Tuscan Alberto Antonini, who was also a consultant for Bulgheroni’s Uruguayan winery, Bodega Garzón.
Ed Sheeran (Singer-Songwriter) and Colin Firth (Actor)
It has been reported that both Colin Firth, an English actor, and Ed Sheeran, the English singer-songwriter, have homes in Città della Pieve, which is located in the Umbria region, close to the Tuscan border. Additionally, Colin Firth, who is married to Italian producer Livia Giuggioli and speaks fluent Italian, reportedly owns a second house in Tuscany itself.
Rachael Ray (American Cook)
In August 2021, the American celebrity cook, television personality, businesswoman, and author purchased a home in Tuscany, as she said in an interview, captivated by the region’s unique aroma. “The air in Tuscany smells different from any other place on earth I’ve visited. It’s sweet and filled with the scent of agricultural wonder,” she expressed. “The olive trees, vineyards, fecund gardens, incredible landscapes and views… It overwhelms you and it’s what I’ve missed the most — the air! The first time I went, 20 years ago, I felt it as soon as I touched the ground.”
Thank you for reading. We want to remind to you that if you are looking to get other free information about buying a house or property in Tuscany or in Italy, we can help you.
Get in touch with us by writing an email to admin@travelstotuscany.com and we will answer you as soon as possible.
