Despite its small size, this apartment packs in luxurious details, such as a marble bathroom, impressive chandelier and a stunning peaked ceiling painted in pale greens and gold. There’s also a fully equipped kitchen, so pick up some Italian produce and enjoy a freshly cooked meal round the wooden dining table, or eat alfresco on the patio. Tall French windows lead out onto pretty lawns and your own private lanai, where you can relax with a book, or pop open a bottle of locally sourced wine in the evening. The home is ideally located near Lake Como, with the lakeside town of Menaggio around a kilometre away.

Home truths:
* The apartment is arranged as a studio, with only a sofa bed
* While the kitchen is fully equipped, the space on the worktop is limited