Palazzo Milesi

Three floors hold nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The ground floor is given over to generous shared spaces: a large living room, a library, two dining rooms seating up to twenty, two sitting rooms, a fully equipped kitchen with modern appliances, and a separate laundry room. There is also a service bedroom with its own private bathroom on this level. Antique furnishings, large fireplaces and a grand piano set the tone without trying too hard.

Upstairs, the first floor has three double bedrooms and two twin rooms, with four bathrooms accessible from the corridors. Two of these rooms come with an adjoining sitting area fitted with sofa beds. The second floor adds another four double bedrooms and two bathrooms. Throughout, the feel is one of refined austerity rather than fuss, with period details left to do the talking. Wi-Fi is available, and the 15m by 7m private swimming pool in the back garden needs no introduction.

The estate sits among some of Franciacorta's most celebrated wineries, including Ca' del Bosco and Bellavista, so days here tend to involve vineyard visits and long lunches. Bergamo, Brescia, Verona and Venice are all within comfortable reach for day trips, and the ski slopes of Ponte di Legno-Tonale offer a change of pace in the colder months. Restaurants and a village are close by, making it easy to settle into a rhythm that suits the group, whether that means cooking in or heading out.