From Miami to Tangier, via the French Riviera, Cascais and the Hamptons, the biggest names in fashion have found summer retreats far from the catwalks and spotlights where they can express their creative genius. From legendary villas and family homes to secret workshops and castles, each of these exceptional locations embodies the spirit, audacity, and art of living of their famous owners.
This summer, LUXUS MAGAZINE takes you on a weekly tour of a prestigious residence: a nine-part journey through the iconic vacation spots of the world’s greatest fashion designers. In this eighth installment of our summer saga, we head for the green hills of Italy. It is here, at the Villa Vagnola in Cétone, near Siena (Tuscany), that fashion designer Valentino Garavani has been escaping every summer since the 1980s. It is a place that embodies his vision of Italian refinement, hidden from view but open to beauty in all its forms.
A haven of elegance in the heart of Italy
The Villa Vagnola is more than just a summer residence. Located in the heart of a vast estate on the volcanic lands of ancient Etruria, this neoclassical mansion, surrounded by olive trees and cypresses, reflects Valentino’s refined taste. Acquired in 1986, it was patiently restored by the couturier and his lifelong companion, Giancarlo Giammetti, in collaboration with interior designer Henri Samuel and then decorator Jacques Grange.
Built in 1750 by the nobleman Cetona Salustio Terrosi for his wife Antonietta Vagnoli, the villa takes its name from this union. The site, once occupied by rural huts, has been transformed through extensive redevelopment work.
At Villa Vagnola, nothing is ostentatious. Ancient frescoes, period furniture, libraries filled with art books, and carefully selected fabrics create a setting where every detail speaks to the passage of time. “I love living surrounded by beauty; it nourishes me.” , explained Valentino, highlighting a personal relationship with aesthetics that permeates every corner of this unique home.
A life of aesthetic pleasure in dolce vita style
Life follows a quiet rhythm, between walks in the gardens, reading by the pool, and lunches in the shade of olive trees and umbrella pines. Surrounded by his faithful companions, his pugs named Maometto and Milton, Valentino cultivates a precise and peaceful lifestyle.
The gardens also reflect this sensibility: rose gardens, mosaic fountains, shaded paths… all leading to the secret garden where Valentino likes to retreat. Every summer, Villa Vagnola becomes a space for creativity and memories, punctuated by the elegance of everyday life.
In the evening, the house comes alive: dinner in evening gowns, outdoor film screenings, and impromptu singing take place in this carefully maintained setting. Among the passing guests are a few familiar faces—Elizabeth Hurley, Hugh Grant, Claudia Schiffer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Hathaway, Naomi Campbell, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Donatella Versace, and Maria Grazia Chiuri—who come to share a moment suspended in time, sheltered from the world.
An artistic refuge between memory and creation
More than just a house, Villa Vagnola is a place filled with beauty. Inside, the works of art speak to each other: drawings by Cocteau, sculptures from ancient Rome, Renaissance portraits, and modern paintings. Each room tells a chapter of the master’s eclectic taste.
Started in the 1960s, Valentino’s collection has found a discreet home here. Retired from the fashion scene since 2008, the couturier continues to pursue his passion for design and interior decoration far from the spotlight. Today, his intimate connection to art and creativity extends beyond the walls of Vagnola.
In May 2025, Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti inaugurated their cultural foundation in Rome: PM23. Located at 23 Piazza Mignanelli, in the former Palazzo Gabrielli Mignanelli, this space hosts exhibitions, workshops, and initiatives for young talent. Through this venue, Valentino is continuing its commitment to a legacy where art, fashion, and transmission intertwine, faithful to its vision of beauty.
As for La Villa Vagnola, it was discreetly put up for sale in 2019 through Christie’s International Real Estate, with an asking price of €12 million. Since then, no official information has confirmed whether the transaction took place or who the new owner might be. It is therefore possible that the property still belongs to the founding duo, or that it has changed hands in the utmost secrecy.
A mirage of a reinvented dolce vita, Villa Vagnola is much more than just a summer retreat: it is the stage for a Valentino lifestyle. This sanctuary not only invites you to dream, but also reminds you that the most authentic elegance is often found far from the eyes of the world, in the privacy of a place shaped in your own image.
Read: Valentino, At the Emperor’s Table – The Legends Collection | Édition Assouline
See: The BoF Podcast | Giancarlo Giammetti on Securing Valentino’s Legacy 2025 (YouTube)
Next and final episode: Ralph Lauren and The Hamptons
Read also > Épisode 7/9 Karl Lagerfeld et La Vigie
Featured image: montage of portrait de Valentino and La Villa Vagnola
