Seaside Odyssey: 7 Idyllic Homes in the Mediterranean (2024)

Timeless, the Mediterranean Sea’s deep sapphire waters, its vivid emerald landscapes and white, windswept shores have brought forth ancient myth and modern legend from Homer to Hollywood.

Our Luxury Defined odyssey begins in a seafront idyll on the Monte Argentario Peninsula, Italy, and wanders to the Italian Riviera and a deluxe turnkey apartment above the marina of Portofino. Therefrom, to a hilltop sanctuary on Sardinia’s beautiful Costa Smeralda.

Along the way, we explore other seaside aeries on the islands of Malta, Corsica (Napoleon’s birthplace), and Mallorca, “the Jewel of the Balearic Islands”—all with their own captivating views of deep blue waters, punctuated with pine-cloaked hills, sleepy fishing villages, and glamorous beach resorts. 

Let the poets sing of wine-dark seas rimmed with bold anfractuous rocks. End our odyssey, wanderer. Retreat to that coastal haven and gaze at the Mediterranean’s majesty. New legends are waiting to be born.

1. Seafront Villa in Monte Argentario, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy

This colorful villa is built into the sea cliffs of the Monte Argentario Peninsula, just outside the Tuscan resort town of Porto Santo Stefano.

The main residence is configured as four luxurious, sea-view apartments over three levels. Three units are on the lower two floors: Apartment A (one bedroom and one bath); Apartment B (five bedrooms and four baths), and Apartment C (four bedrooms and four baths). A staircase in the building’s stone tower rises to Apartment D, a one-bedroom penthouse suite with dazzling sea vistas. 

The gardens are a paradise of native plants and flowers and Amiata stone terraces, shaded by towering cypresses for long alfresco lunches under the Tuscan sun. Two staircases carved into the cliffside descend to the sea. The swimming pool has its own beautiful stone terrace with the Tuscan Archipelago as the backdrop. There’s also access to a sandy beach.

A self-contained, two-story guest house, laundry facility, and ample private parking complete the amenities. 

2. Contemporary Villa in Marina de Davia, Corsica

This dramatic contemporary seaside sanctuary nestles in the picturesque coastal complex of Marine de Davia in the village of Corbara, minutes from L’île Rousse, in the haunting land- and seascapes of North Corsica. 

Majestically sited overlooking the azure Mediterranean, this 2,228-square-foot (207-square-meter) contemporary villa offers airy, light-filled open plan living within a floor-to-ceiling windowscape. 

This beautifully conceived family home is fitted with all modern creature comforts: four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a custom-kitted kitchen with a full pantry and utility space, as well as an office and a garage with electric vehicle charge point. 

The inviting pool and sun terrace offer sweeping views, mere steps from the sea, and the extensive gardens are perfect for a game of boules or sunset contemplation.

3. Madliena Villa in Swieqi, Malta

This hilltop aerie looks out to sea in Madliena, an exclusive residential area on Malta’s northeast coast. 

This newly built residence is accoutered with the finest details and finishes, and amenities including solar-powered, radiant heating, a surround sound system, a generator, and a six-car garage with EV-charging ports.

The sprawling open-plan living and dining area affords panoramic views of the countryside and the sea. Adjacent is a huge kitchen with a breakfast space and pantry. Sliding glass doors open to a sea-view terrace with an inviting heated pool and a luxurious open-air lounge. 

Of the four generously proportioned double bedrooms, two have en suite bathrooms and walk-in closets. Rounding out the home is an entertainment suite on the lower level, housing a cinema, playroom, and storage room.

4. Villa Nido D’Uccello in Porto Cervo, Sardinia

Villa Nido D’Uccello is an architectural jewel on the secluded hill of Porto Cervo on Sardinia’s beautiful Costa Smeralda.

This five-bedroom villa by acclaimed French-born architect Savin Couëlle embodies the artisanal craftwork and understated elegance of Costa Smeralda style. A sensitive renovation by architect Patrick Lesuisse stays true to Couëlle’s original design.

The villa’s organic forms and natural materials—wood, stone, granite, and terracotta finishes, boulder walls, and thatched ceilings—echo the rustic beauty of the land.

Eclectic living and dining spaces, with an American-style kitchen, flow seamlessly to the veranda with its billion-dollar view of megayachts navigating the prestigious Marina di Porto Cervo.

The alfresco dining place, the lagoon-style pool, and the lush gardens offer a vista of the Corsican harbor town of Porto-Vecchio and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the distance.

5. Stars of Mykonos in Cyclades, Greece

Newly built, the dramatic contemporary lines of Stars of Mykonos offers everything for the resort lifestyle, including a private beach with sunset views to the island of Delos, birthplace of the sun god Apollo. 

The estate comprises two fully furnished villas in immaculate turnkey condition, set beside two infinity pools, above a private beach, and with vistas of nearby Delos and beyond. 

The two villas have been designed and built to complement each other. Together, they offer 6,705 square feet (623 square meters) of luxurious indoor and outdoor spaces for entertaining and family life, and both have kitchens fully equipped with the latest, stylish SMEG appliances.

Ancillary features include two staff rooms and storage, central heating/ air-conditioning, a smart-home system, a generator and water drill technology, covered parking, and two kitchenettes on the upper floors. 

Surrounding the two villas are almost three acres of grounds that end at a tranquil cove with a sandy beach. Steps carved into the rock lead down to a private dock. The town of Mykonos with its cosmopolitan shops and restaurants is just 5 kilometers away.

6. Luxury Harbor-Front Apartment in Portofino, Italy

Once a traditional Ligurian fishermen’s house, this luxurious turnkey apartment overlooks the famous Marina di Portofino, on the Italian Riviera, one of the most beautiful and glamorous locales in the Mediterranean.

Milanese interior decorator Filippo Perego renovated, accoutered and transformed the 2,260-square-foot (210-square-meter) residence into a charming three-level home with four ample bedrooms and four full baths.

The fourth level opens up the double-height great room, where wide French doors access the terrace and look down to the bustling marina. The eat-in kitchen serves the adjacent, intimate dining space, and a service room with its own bathroom. Just above, the balustraded landing lounge introduces a loft space with an en suite bath.

Just down the graceful, curved staircase, the private quarters await with a primary suite, a guest bedroom, two en suite bathrooms, and many closets. 

The property is offered complete with Perego’s bespoke furnishings, finishes, and architectural details.

7. Luxury Villa in Port d’Andratx, Mallorca, Spain

This sleek, multi-level villa is built into the rocky cliffs above Port d’Andratx—“the loveliest harbor in the Mediterranean.” 

A blend of Mediterranean and modern, the sleek multi-level villa is entered through a magnificent entrance hall on the top level with a clear view of Cala Llamp Bay.

The integrated living room, dining room, and dream kitchen are on the second level for ease of access to the partially covered dining terrace—and the infinity pool patio overlooking the bay.

There are five bedrooms: Two are private suites on the upper level, each with a sunny, sea-view balcony. A guest suite with a private entrance and a bedroom on the lower level with a bathroom (one of five full bathrooms in the home). This floor also has a view of the bay, and additional space for an artist’s studio, yoga room, or gym.