Many American celebrities have fallen in love with Italy during a visit or while filming a movie or a show and decided to either buy or rent a home there. The Mediterranean sun, the authentic culture, the charm of centuries-old homes, the relaxed lifestyle and, of course, the fresh food entices even the most rich and famous to experience life in Italy beyond a short vacation.
Famous TV chefs, actors and singers are ditching their luxurious Californian or New Yorker homes for a few months a year, in exchange for a simpler and more relaxed life away from the paparazzi and daily pressures, by renting a villa in Tuscany or even buying a property of their own.
Here are a few American celebrities who call Italy their second dolce casa:
Celebrity Chef Rachael Ray
Tuscany
Rachael Ray revealed that she bought a villa in Tuscany. Rachael’s and her husband’s Italian roots and their love of all-things food were perfect reasons why she has been spending her summer months in Italy’s Tuscany region for many years before achieving her life goal of owning a property in Italy. The smell of the Tuscan air, the incredible views, the fresh foods, and ungodly wine are a chef’s delight. The 30-minute meals queen and her king are living their Italian dream in a villa they admittedly bought 3 years prior that was in dire need of lots of renovation.
Celebrity Chef Giada De Laurentiis
Amalfi Coast & Rome
The charming Italian-American Food Network chef has been turning fine Italian cooking into “everyday Italian” for millions of Americans since 2003. Originally from Rome, she grew up in Italy before moving with her family to L.A., and now loves to spend a lot of time in her native country, especially in the South, splitting her time between the Amalfi Coast, Napoli and Rome. Although it’s not clear whether and where she owns a home in Italy, we do know for a fact that she has been renting a villa in Positano this year while filming her Giada in Italy series. More recently, she’s been spending lots of time in Rome and Tuscany, renting in Montalcino while working with fellow chef Bobby Flay on a new series titled Bobby and Giada in Italy.
Actor George Clooney
Laglio
George Clooney has been very open about his long-time tenure as a homeowner in Italy. In 2002, he purchased a luxurious eighteenth-century villa located on Lake Como in Northern Italy’s Laglio. Known as Villa Oleandra, it is the place where he regularly entertains his friends and family, perhaps in hopes he might convert a few friends to adopt the laid-back Italian lifestyle. Later on, he expanded his real estate portfolio by buying a second property in Lake Como, Villa Margherita.
Actor Johnny Depp
Venice
“The Tourist” star Johnny Depp is said to be the proud owner of a little palazzo in Venezia since 2010, after being lured by the magic of the city’s dark passages and freedom to roam at night while filming his movie there. His palace called Palazzo Donà Sangiantoffetti is located on the Grand Canal and it comes with its own private canal yacht access, of course.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio
Verona
As predictable as it may sound, the Romeo & Juliet actor owns a home in the city of love, Verona, because why not? He has a penthouse right in the city center, overlooking Piazza Bra and the Arena, Verona’s version of the Roman Colosseum. DiCaprio, who speaks the language, has Italian roots via his father and was reportedly named after Leonardo Da Vinci. It was clearly meant to be — and why he loves to spend his summer days in Italy, in this small romantic city near Lake Garda.
Many other American celebrities have invested in real estate in Italy, among them Meryl Streep, George Lucas, Madonna, and many many more. From country living in Tuscany or Puglia, to bustling city life in Rome or Milano, Italy is an excellent place to spend a few months a year or retire even if you’re not Italian.
