Piedmont & Vine

Perched on a Monferrato hilltop and ringed by working vineyards, this villa in Alessandria is the kind of place where a morning swim feels like a real treat. The private pool – framed by an open Piedmont sky – pulls you outside from the moment you arrive. Inside, original brick arcs over a sleek kitchen, a reminder that the villa traces its roots to the early 20th century, with all the comfort of a considered renovation layered on top. Asti, Alba, and Barbaresco are a short drive away when the vineyards outside aren't enough.

Home truths:
* The pool is open from the last Saturday in April to the first Saturday in October, so if you're visiting outside that window you won't have access to it.
* If you're travelling with little ones, your host can provide a cot and high chair. It's worth requesting these in advance to make sure everything is ready on arrival.
* The villa sits on top of a hill outside Cuccaro Monferrato, so you'll need a car to reach nearby towns, restaurants, and wine estates. The courtyard behind the automatic gate has parking for your vehicle.
* The games room in the basement has direct access to the garden and pool, but the main living spaces are on the ground floor above – so moving between entertaining floors and the pool means using the internal stairs or lift.