Green Pesto

Green Pesto: Lombardy

This recently renovated house still retains all the charm of a traditional Italian country home. It's nestled in between the pretty villages of Civenna and Bellagio, meaning it's only a twelve-minute drive to the shores of Lake Como. The surrounding Lombardy scenery is beautiful, and best enjoyed from the first-floor balcony, where you can enjoy a hot morning coffee as you admire the forests and mountain tops. There's plenty more outdoor space too, with 1,000 square meters of private and fenced garden to explore and a covered terrace surrounded by vines. Open up a bottle of Chianti and get comfortable in the alfresco lounge area as darkness falls – it's wonderfully quiet here. On chillier evenings, you can gather around the traditional stone fireplace or serve up a feast of local Italian produce at the rustic dining table. This is a truly dreamy home for those looking for a little slice of la dolce vita.

Home truths:
*The wi-fi here is accessed via a portable router – it can be weak so it's best not to expect fast internet access
*You'll probably want a car to get around this area – there is parking available at the house