Villa Zagara

Historic Arches Turned Modern

Soaring vaulted ceilings are this villa’s standout feature, arching over every space in the majestic home’s 4,000+ square foot surface near the ancient Italian city of Lecce. Once reduced to near ruin, the aristocratic villa was rescued and restored by an award-winning architect, who modernized the space, creating a contemporary palace perfect for entertaining, socializing and unwinding in elegance.

One of the many historic villas and palazzos surrounding the aristocratic Italian town of Lecce, Villa Zagara was crumbling when architect Heidi Locher and her music-business husband came upon it. Recognizing the beauty in the home’s historic bones, the couple set about restoring and redesigning it, preserving the villa’s nobly arching interior ceilings and adding contemporary elements such as poured concrete floors, whitewashed walls with wide windows and doors.

Spacious and now decidedly modern, the updated villa hosts a collection of contemporary art and photography as well as iconic designer furnishings by 20th- and 21st-century creators. Six double bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom, sleep 12 adults.

As you enter the villa there is a spacious entertainment space leading into a separate TV and family room. The vast barreled kitchen ceiling spreads over a long kitchen island made from local marble, that seats at least 12. Outdoors, a spacious seating and dining terrace sits within view of the garden and surrounding olive and citrus groves, offering space to spread out and enjoy meals al fresco. Designed to be a destination for casual entertaining, the home's pool and outside spaces are picturesque, with lots of lounge chairs for soaking up the Apulian sun, and plenty of shady spots across multiple terraces perfect for chilling out, reading, conversations, or even playing a game of table tennis.

This villa for rent in Italy offers views and footpaths across its sea of ancient olive and citrus trees. Perched above the groves in the picturesque Valle Cupa, the home been recognized as an enviable blend of contemporary design and classic Apulian styling.

Around

Set in eight hectares of olive and citrus groves, Villa Zagara is a 10-minute drive from the city of Lecce, known in Italy as the “Florence of the South.” A university town, Lecce is lively and packed with bars, restaurants, and boutiques. It's famed for its beautiful walled historic center, densely packed with noble buildings dating from the Baroque era all the way back to Roman times. The town’s Roman amphitheater and its vast Cathedral are favorite sites, and the quintessentially Italian town offers dozens of pretty piazzas and palazzos to discover on foot.

Set in the country's heel, in Puglia, this villa for rent in Italy is located nearly equidistance—a quick 20-to-30-minute drive—between the Ionian and Adriatic seas, each offering gorgeous swimming beaches and beach clubs, charming fishing villages, and cheerful seaside restaurants and bars. Supermarkets and shops are only 10 minutes away.

Location

Lecce, Salento, Italy. Nearest airports: Brindisi (30 mins), Bari (45 mins)

Best time to visit

The villa is available 7 June to 27 September 2025.