Monferrato Nocturne

Sleeping beneath hand-painted frescoes in a canopied four-poster bed, in a 16th-century villa once home to the Viceroy of Sardinia, is a fairly hard act to follow – yet this villa keeps delivering. Original vaulted ceilings, ornamental fireplaces, and inlaid floors speak to centuries of careful stewardship, while air-conditioned bedrooms and two kitchens mean comfort is never in question. Outside, a walled garden with a private pool, jasmine-covered pergola, and a wood oven for alfresco evenings sits in the Monferrato hills of Piedmont – one of Italy's most quietly beautiful corners.

Home truths:
* The villa has two flights of stairs between the ground and first floors with no lift, so you'll be navigating stairs regularly across the stay – particularly when moving between the sleeping and living areas.
* If you're travelling with little ones, your host can provide a cot and high chair. Ask in advance to make sure everything is set up on arrival.
* For those with reduced mobility, there's a ground floor bedroom and bathroom here.
* The pool is open from the last Saturday in April to the first Saturday in October, so if you're visiting outside those dates you won't be able to use it.
* This is a historic home – some rooms have smaller windows as a result of the original 16th-century construction, which means certain spaces feel darker and more atmospheric than a modern villa would. It's part of the character, but worth bearing in mind if you prefer bright, airy interiors.