Best properties on the market

1. Umbria This restored stone farmhouse is set on a hill surrounded by olive trees and orchards. The five-bedroom home features vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, four terraces, a study, an outdoor jacuzzi, and a large, updated kitchen. The property sits within a larger country estate, and residents are granted access to tennis courts and three community pools. $968,000. Jackson-Stops & Staff, (011-44) 20-7828-7387

2. Tuscany Set among eight acres of wildflower meadows in the Sieve Valley, this six-bedroom hillside farmhouse features an herb garden and a swimming pool surrounded by walnut and cherry trees. The restored interior includes exposed beams, terra-cotta floors, and stone staircases. Two of the bedrooms are located in the house’s garden apartment. $2,239,000. Aylesford International, (011-44) 20-7349-5100

3. Marche This 14th-century stone residence, which sits beside a stream in a hamlet in the Apennines, once served as a stopover for post riders and their horses, as well as for pigeons carrying messages across the papal states. The six bedrooms include two that can be used as an independent apartment. The main building features a four-story tower and remnants of a fresco. $1,116,000. Cluttons Italy, (011-39) 349-132-7177

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4. Tuscany Perched on a hillside outside of Lucca, this stone house is one of two located on a five-acre property above a terraced olive grove. One of the houses features three bedrooms, and the other has two; both have antique terra-cotta-tiled floors and exposed beams throughout. $2,458,000. Knight Frank, (011-44) 20-7629-8171

5. Venice The second floor, or piano nobile, of the 18th-century Palazzo Fornoni is today a 4,300-square-foot apartment with nine large windows overlooking the Grand Canal. The four-bedroom flat requires some renovation, but includes many wall and ceiling frescoes and other period details. $8,426,000. Knight Frank, (011-39) 041-521-0622

6. Tuscany Castello dell’Aquila is a 12th-century castle that commands a 77-acre property overlooking two river valleys and the town of Gragnola. Recently restored, the castle contains a large owner’s suite, nine guest suites, a catering kitchen, and several rooms large enough for concerts or wedding receptions. $18,226,000. Cluttons Italy, (011-39) 349-132-7177