What is it about the Mediterranean coast that makes it such a paradisiacal place for a personal retreat? Perhaps it’s the juxtaposition of white sand beaches and translucent blue waters with beautifully preserved artifacts of history and culture, or the sense of peace brought on by the breathtaking tranquility of an open horizon. Here’s a peek inside three paragon properties whose aesthetics, caliber, and locales place them at the pinnacle of classic Mediterranean living.

“Less is more.” That was the edict of one of modern architecture’s patron saints, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and is still a guiding principle for many contemporary practitioners. Geometric shapes, a lack of ornamentation, open, efficient floor plans, and seamless indoor-outdoor living are hallmarks of modern masterpieces. But above all, materials—glass, steel, and concrete—shape the designs.