The lesser visited region of Umbria is also enjoying its place in the celebrity sun, mostly thanks to the existence of Hotel Castello di Reschio, a 1,000-year-old castle turned hotel surrounded by an 1,500-hectare estate scattered with seven villas offering an idyllic slice of Italian country living for the publicity shy.
French connections
Villas are the obvious choice for those seeking seclusion. Not to be confused with the glitzier Cap Ferrat of the French Riviera, Cap Ferret on France’s Atlantic coast is proving popular with the A-list, according to Eleanore de Cadier de Veauce of Le Collectionist, who has a portfolio of properties dotted around Europe. Lège Cap-Ferret, a slim peninsula between the Bay of Archachon and the Atlantic Ocean, is a bit like a Gallic Hamptons with historic clapboard houses, quiet sophistication and devotees like actors Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet.
Tom Marchant, of high-end operator Black Tomato, says: “Iceland is another destination where we’ve sent lots of celebrity clients, but recently, the lesser-touched north is particularly appealing with its private lodges like Deplar Farm.