When you hear the name Francis Ford Coppola, cinema most likely comes to mind. But the famed director of Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders, The Godfather trilogy, and more classic movies wears many hats. In addition to his renowned contributions to the film industry, Coppola is also a winemaker and accidental hotelier. What started out as mere hobbies turned into two highly profitable companies: Francis Ford Coppola Winery and The Family Coppola Hideaways. Below are the properties that started it all.
The historic Hancock Park Tudor
If there’s one thing all of Coppola’s former homes have in common, it’s historic charm. The movie director once owned a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom Tudor mansion in Los Angeles’s Hancock Park neighborhood. Coppola lived in the 6,041-square-foot home back in the 1980s. The home has all the charm that comes with a Tudor home, such as 12-foot coffered ceilings, a wood-paneled dining room, a primary suite with a fireplace and marble bathtub, plus a gourmet kitchen complete with Viking appliances and marble counters. The outdoor space was made with entertaining in mind. The 0.39-acre property has a redbrick-framed pool, raised spa, an outdoor fireplace, and a built-in barbecue. Since Coppola lived there, the property has changed hands various times, most notably when Ariana Grande called the Tudor mansion home in the early 2010s. It hit the market in 2019 and sold for $7.05 million.
The Italian villa and the Family Coppola Hideaways
It comes as no surprise that Coppola would have a palatial home in Italy—one fit for Vito Corleone of The Godfather. Palazzo Margherita is the definition of grandiose. Built in 1892 in Bernalda, Italy, the 19th-century villa was once home to the Margherita family. The town also happened to be the birthplace of Agostino Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola’s grandfather, who always referred to the villa as “Bernalda bella.” Coppola fell under the spell of the Palazzo just like his grandfather and purchased the Palazzo in 2004. He had intentions of introducing the grand home to the world by transforming it into a luxurious boutique hotel—and so it became a part of The Family Coppola Hideaways. The film director teamed up with French designer Jacques Grange to create an authentic Italian experience. “Surrounded by gardens, a courtyard, and a swimming pool, all just steps from a small, bustling town in which the visitor is a friend and neighbor rather than a tourist,” states the official website of The Family Coppola Hideaways. In addition to staying at Palazzo Margherita, guests can also book rooms at Coppola’s properties in Belize, Guatemala, and Argentina.
The private island
