Cottages in Italy

Small rural homes with character

An Italian cottage might be a small stone farmhouse, a converted barn or a wing of a larger farm, often with terracotta floors, beamed ceilings and a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Many sit among olive groves or vineyards, with a garden or terrace for long lunches outdoors.

This collection suits couples, small families and friends who want peace and quiet, walkers, and keen cooks who like shopping at local markets and cooking with what is in season. It is a good way to live a little more like the locals, away from the busier resorts.

Before you book

Rural cottages are often off the beaten track, so a hire car is usually essential. In Tuscany and Umbria the last stretch is often a strada bianca, a white gravel road that can be bumpy and dusty, so ask how long the unmade section is. Mobile signal and wifi can also be patchy in the countryside.

Ask how far it is to the nearest shop and village, so you know how much to buy on the way. Thick stone walls keep cottages cool in summer but can feel chilly on spring and autumn evenings, so check how the heating works and whether firewood is provided.

It is also worth asking whether the cottage stands on its own or shares a garden or pool with the owner or other guests, as many are part of a working farm or agriturismo.

Where to find them

In Tuscany, look to Chianti, the Casentino or the Val d'Orcia, a UNESCO-listed landscape of cypress-lined roads and hill towns such as Pienza. Umbria offers quieter countryside around Todi, Spoleto and the Valnerina, with walking and fine olive oil.

Le Marche rolls from the Apennines to the Adriatic, with Renaissance Urbino and hill villages that see fewer visitors than their Tuscan neighbours. In northern Sardinia, the traditional granite farmhouses of Gallura, known as stazzi, are another option.

Browse the cottages listed below to find a quiet country base for your holiday.