There are plenty of beautiful villas on the French Riviera. But every once in a while, you come across one that feels like it has a story to tell.
Villa Casalita, hidden among the hills of Super Cannes, is one of those properties.
Overlooking the Bay of Antibes towards Cap d’Antibes, surrounded by approximately 3,500 square metres of Mediterranean gardens and centred around a private swimming pool, the villa offers everything you might expect from a luxury Côte d’Azur escape.
But its real appeal goes deeper than the pool, the views or the impressive list of amenities. Villa Casalita has something that many newly renovated luxury properties have lost: character.
Originally built in the early 1970s, the villa has been carefully renovated rather than reinvented. Completed in 2024, the project was driven by a desire to bring the property into the modern era without erasing the architectural personality and atmosphere that made it special in the first place.
And that makes Villa Casalita an interesting glimpse into two very different eras of Riviera living.
Keeping the Spirit of the Seventies
The early 1970’s were an important period for the French Riviera.
The Côte d’Azur had already become an international playground, attracting artists, celebrities, entrepreneurs and wealthy visitors from around the world. Architecture and interiors reflected a particular kind of relaxed sophistication – less formal than previous generations, but unmistakably glamorous.
Villa Casalita was born during that period.
When the decision was made to renovate the property, the objective wasn’t to strip everything back and create another minimalist, ultra-contemporary villa that could have been built anywhere in the world.
Instead, the owner chose a different path.
The original spirit of the house was retained, while its comfort, technology and quality were brought firmly into the 21st century.
The result is a property that doesn’t feel like a museum piece from the 1970’s, but neither does it feel like the past has been swept away.
The renovation allows the villa’s original personality to remain part of the experience. It is a subtle distinction, but an important one. There is a difference between renovating a house and removing everything that made the house interesting in the first place.
Villa Casalita has been given a new life without losing its identity.
Where Italian and Scandinavian Design Meet the Côte d’Azur
The interiors were designed by Azur360, with the design drawing inspiration from Italian and Scandinavian styles associated with the period while incorporating contemporary furniture, bespoke details and modern lighting.
The result is sophisticated but relaxed.
This isn’t a villa designed simply to look impressive in photographs. It has been conceived as a home in which people can actually live, gather, entertain and relax.
The approximately 250-square-metre interior accommodates up to 10 guests across five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.
There are two separate living rooms, both featuring open fireplaces, creating natural spaces for different groups to spend time together – something particularly useful when a villa is being shared by several generations of a family or a group of friends.
The design continues outside, where the Mediterranean setting becomes almost another room of the house.
Terraces, balconies and outdoor living spaces create multiple areas for breakfast, lunch, cocktails or simply doing absolutely nothing – which, on the Riviera, is sometimes the whole point.
And then there is that view. From the property, the Bay of Antibes stretches towards Cap d’Antibes, providing an ever-changing Mediterranean backdrop. Morning brings bright blue water and sunlight. By evening, the colours soften as the sun moves across the horizon.
It is the kind of view that becomes part of the architecture.
The Art of Outdoor Living
Villa Casalita has been designed around the way people actually use the Riviera.
The private swimming pool is accompanied by a dedicated lounge area, while an outdoor kitchen and barbecue make long lunches and evening dinners easy to organise.
There are two outdoor dining areas, along with a rooftop sun terrace.
For a family or group of friends, that creates something increasingly valuable: choice.
You can all be together around the pool, gather for dinner, find a quiet corner with a book or retreat to the rooftop terrace for an evening drink.
Inside, the modern comforts are equally well considered.
Air conditioning, Wi-Fi and Smart TVs sit alongside a fully equipped high-quality kitchen, generous bathrooms with rain showers, double showers in some bathrooms and a freestanding bathtub.
Walk-in wardrobes add further practicality, while a garage and two additional parking spaces make the property particularly convenient for guests arriving by car.
It is, in many ways, the best of both worlds.
You get the personality of a distinctive Riviera villa from another era without giving up the comforts expected from a luxury property today.
Super Cannes: The Riviera Above the Riviera
Location is an essential part of the Villa Casalita story.
Super Cannes is one of the most sought-after residential areas around Cannes, known for its hillside villas, mature greenery, privacy and panoramic Mediterranean views.
It occupies an interesting position on the Côte d’Azur.
You are close enough to Cannes, Antibes and Juan-les-Pins to enjoy everything they offer, but far enough above the coast to escape the intensity of the summer crowds.
From Villa Casalita, guests can spend the morning at the beach, head into Cannes for lunch or shopping, explore Antibes in the afternoon and return to the villa for an evening beside the pool.
Or they can simply stay put.
For families, the property offers space and privacy. For groups of friends, there are plenty of places to socialise without everyone having to spend every minute together.
That ability to switch between Riviera activity and complete privacy is one of the great attractions of hillside living.
Luxury With a Sense of History
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Villa Casalita is what it says about modern luxury.
Luxury doesn’t necessarily mean making everything new.
Increasingly, some of the most interesting properties are those where history, architecture and design are treated as assets rather than obstacles.
Villa Casalita could easily have been transformed into a completely contemporary house. Instead, its 1970’s origins were embraced.
The renovation respects the architecture while introducing modern functionality. The furnishings acknowledge the design language of the period without becoming a nostalgic recreation. And the overall result feels contemporary without becoming anonymous.
That balance isn’t necessarily easy to achieve. It requires restraint.
It also requires an understanding that a property can have imperfections, memories and personality – and that these qualities can sometimes be more valuable than another layer of polished marble.
A Collaboration Between Two Riviera Specialists
Villa Casalita is available for holiday rental through a collaboration between Perfect Homes and Experience The French Riviera.
The partnership brings together the two teams’ local knowledge and experience, giving guests support both before arrival and during their stay.
For visitors coming to the Côte d’Azur, that can make a meaningful difference.
Finding a beautiful villa is one thing. Knowing where to go, who to contact, how to navigate the area and having experienced local professionals available when questions arise is another.
Villa Casalita is available for holiday rental at approximately €4,000 to €8,500 per week, depending on the season and period.
For rental enquiries and further information, guests can contact Perfect Homes or Experience The French Riviera.
A Different Kind of Riviera Luxury
Villa Casalita isn’t trying to compete with every sleek, newly constructed contemporary villa on the Côte d’Azur.
And perhaps that’s precisely what makes it interesting.
It is a house with a history that has been allowed to remain visible.
Video via Experience The French Riviera on YouTube
The architecture reflects its 1970s origins. The interiors bring together period influences and contemporary design. The gardens and terraces embrace the Mediterranean lifestyle. And the views provide the spectacular backdrop that anyone renting a villa on the Riviera dreams of waking up to.
It is private without feeling disconnected, luxurious without becoming impersonal and historic without feeling dated.
Most importantly, it demonstrates that renovation doesn’t have to mean erasing the past.
Sometimes the best way to create a modern Riviera home is to understand what made the original one special – and then build upon it.
Villa Casalita is, quite simply, a little piece of 1970s Côte d’Azur that has been given a very 2020s lease on life.
PHOTO CREDITS
- All photos and video courtesy Experience The French Riviera / Perfect Homes
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