The UK’s love affair with Italy is nothing new – but it seems our obsession is only becoming more tangible, with a record number of Brits looking to purchase property in the country this year. Italian property network Great Estate reported €76.3m in real estate sales last year, fuelled by a sharp rise in demand from British and American buyers seeking lifestyle relocation, long-term investment and tax-efficient opportunities across the Italian countryside. 

This, coupled with a 22 per cent increase in UK buyers pursuing homes in Tuscany and Umbria, has solidified these regions as the preferred choice for HNW individuals – and it’s not hard to see why. Renowned for its authenticity, slower pace of life and enduring sense of community, Umbria, a landlocked region in central Italy, is often called the ‘Green Heart of Italy’ and is home to untouched medieval villages, rolling hills, forests and lakes which pose as restorative landscapes promising year-round outdoor living. 

With Italy’s government preparing to raise the annual flat-tax rate for non-doms from €200,000 to €300,000, 2025 proved to be a catalyst year for buyers aiming to secure advantageous terms before the change – and Great Estate expects this to fuel heightened activity in Q2 of 2026. So, there’s clearly never been a better time to buy, but the question on everyone’s lips is where? Enter Villa Krystyna. 

Set high in the rolling hills above Lake Trasimeno, this striking contemporary villa has recently been renovated to the highest standards. Framed by panoramic views across the water and surrounding countryside, the four bedroom, four bathroom property sits within approximately 3,700 square metres of manicured grounds dotted with olive and fruit trees. At the heart of the landscaped garden is a heated swimming pool, designed with a sleek, infinity-style finish that offers uninterrupted views of the rolling Umbrian hills beyond. 

Inside, the villa strikes a balance between modern elegance and historical accents, such as curved doorways, thick wood-beamed ceilings and terracotta tiles. The ground floor is centred around an expansive open-plan kitchen, adjacent to a light-filled living room that benefits from large windows. 

Elsewhere on this floor, discover a dedicated study, ideal for home working, alongside two bedrooms and a bathroom. The lower ground floor houses a spacious garage with capacity for multiple vehicles, in addition to further storage. 

Upstairs, two generously proportioned double bedrooms are complete with their own elegantly appointed en-suite bathrooms. From this upper vantage point, large windows maximise the outlook towards Lake Trasimeno, while a spacious terrace creates an idyllic vantage point from which to take in the landscape. If you’re dreaming of la dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing nothing – you’ll certainly find it at Villa Krystyna. 

Listed for €2,250,000, visit greatestate.it

Read more: Property of the Month — Oscar Wilde’s former Mayfair mansion