Scoop up your beloved and escape to this Italian hideaway, squirreled away within the Botanical Park of San Liberato and fringing the volcanic lakeside town of Bracciano.

Overlooking the lake and the rolling green countryside beyond, the setting of this private chalet is a beauty. Spend lazy days lapping up the sunshine from the poolside (which you'll share with just one other cottage), then pad back to the privacy of your wisteria-entwined veranda for shady alfresco lunches. If you want to beat the heat, there's a bookcase stuffed with Italian classics to flick through indoors, or get together for cool drinks at the dining nook with a view. And if you can part your gaze with the lake panoramas, if just for a while, you'll love the character and soul this place brings. The curated artwork, antique pieces, and Italian ceramics and textiles make everywhere feel entirely unique.

In such a blissfully quiet spot, you could feel a million miles from anywhere here. But when it's time to dive into the Italian bustle, it's all closer than you think. Head into Bracciano to discover the formidable 15th-century Castello Orsini-Odescalchi (a certain Tom Cruise was once married here) before dinner in the countless trattorias nearby (an eight-minute drive). Pack up a picnic and head to the lakeside Tiripiti' Beach for a dip (a fourteen-minute drive away). Or head into Rome for a day trip – the ancient city is just an hour's train ride away.

Home truths:
*Due to its remote location, a car is recommended
*You’ll have a private garage to park your car here
*This home has a private entrance
*Well-behaved dogs are welcomed
*This home is not suitable for children and infants
*The cottage is located in the grounds of your host’s family home, along with just one other holiday cottage
*There is no doors or walls dividing the bedroom area but with just the two of you or single travellers, we doubt this will be a problem