The grandest mansions in France and Italy to purchase, lease or go to

France and Italy are house to among the most storied castles, palaces and grand houses on the planet, starting from Loire Valley chateaux to Sicilian strongholds and French Riviera mansions. Many can be found to rent for weddings or events, in a single day stays or wine tastings. You’ll be able to even purchase one — in case your finances stretches into the thousands and thousands.

CNBC has picked a collection of among the grandest French and Italian castles and palaces you could find.

Need a piece of film historical past? The 22-bedroom neo-Gothic Piazza Agostino Pennisi, which was featured in “The Godfather Half III,” is on the market. The citadel — on the Italian island of Sicily — has an asking worth of $6.8 million and has 12 reception halls, a personal park, grotto and separate caretaker’s house. Coming in at round 43,000 sq. ft, it additionally has a chapel embellished with frescoes by 19^th-century artist Giuseppe Sciuti. Sotheby’s International Realty, which is advertising the property, describes it as a “single household house.”

In the event you fancy cultivating a winemaking interest, think about this grand Italian castle in Tuscany’s Chianti area. It might be yours for 20 million euros ($22.3 million), and is listed by Christie’s Worldwide Actual Property. Relationship again greater than 1,000 years, it was restored within the Eighties by its present proprietor. The citadel is surrounded by round 30 acres of vineyards — which may produce as much as 150,000 bottles of wine a yr — in addition to olive groves and countryside. It has loads of room for company, with 25 bedrooms and 33 bogs, and there may be loads of sightseeing to do close by, because it’s situated between Florence and Siena.

Cannes, the playground of the wealthy and well-known within the south of France, is house to Le Palais Venitien, which is on sale for a staggering $136.9 million. The 32,300 sq. foot house was in-built 1990 and has 9 “residential suites,” together with a cinema, nightclub, hammam and wine cellar. Additionally listed by Sotheby’s, it’s set in six acres of land, together with a woodland, tennis courtroom and lake, all overlooking the Mediterranean.

If shopping for a palace feels just a little out of attain, why not lease a citadel? Chateau Des Joyaux in France’s Loire Valley appears straight out of a Disney film with its spires, lake and 22 bedrooms. It is available in at round 33,000 euros for a two-night midweek keep — for the entire place. Inbuilt 1854, it is typically known as “Petit Chambord” for its resemblance to the 16^th-century Chateau de Chambord in the identical space, and has a neighboring 600-person capability Catholic church for these holding weddings on the venue. The citadel is obtainable to lease by way of Oliver’s Travels.

Upscale rental web site SopranoVillas lets properties throughout Italy, together with an Art Nouveau-style luxury villa
excessive above Lake Como, a area well-known for movie star houses. Previously a medieval lookout level, it has views over the lake and mountains and comes with a chef and concierge. Together with eight suites that may sleep 14, the rental has an leisure ground with two roof terraces, an island bar, viewing platform and music system. Weeklong stays begin from 41,250 euros.

A couple of two-hour drive out of Paris is the Lodge Chateau du Grand-Luce, a palatial 18^th-century property within the Loire Valley, which the lodge claims is “quite possibly the most extravagant suite in Europe.” The gilded, 7,502 euro-per-night Baron’s Suite has 17-foot excessive ceilings, backyard views, and two reception rooms together with the Salon Chinois, with its partitions hand-painted by 18^th-century artist Jean-Baptiste Pillement.

If you do not have the rental finances for a citadel, think about Italy’s many choices for wine-tasting and day excursions. The 18^th-century Castello di Ama, near Siena, mixes modern artwork with wine excursions, and consists of works by Louise Bourgeois, Anish Kapoor and Roni Horn, with works each indoors and within the surrounding grounds. Excursions begin at 65 euros, which incorporates tasting two Chianti Classico wines. 5 suites can be found.

The massive 14^th-century Pope’s palace in Avignon, southeast France, is a UNESCO World Heritage web site and was described by medieval author Jean Froissart as “the most well-fortified house in the world.” It is Europe’s largest Gothic palace and is made up of two buildings — the Palais Neuf (new palace) and the Palais Vieux (previous palace). The latter consists of non-public papal flats, large halls, and the 52m Trouillas Tower, whereas the brand new palace homes the Nice Chapel. Costs begin at 12 euros for the day.