Set behind the gates of Careyes on one of its largest and most...

Set behind the gates of Careyes on one of its largest and most coveted 1/3-acre lots, this Italian Riviera-inspired estate unfolds like a private European retreat tucked quietly into the hills of San Clemente. From the moment you arrive, there is a shift. The architecture feels storied and intentional, rooted in another era. Soaring wood-beamed ceilings rise above Richard Marshall hardwood floors with intricate mosaic inlays, while wrought iron detailing, arched passages, and precast stone fireplaces create depth and romance throughout. The expansive floor plan offers six bedrooms, five full baths and two half baths, including two detached casitas. The downstairs casita is appointed with a high-end TV surround sound system, ideal for theater-style entertaining, while the upper casita offers its own private living space for guests or multigenerational flexibility. Formal and informal spaces flow into a gourmet kitchen with professional-grade appliances and granite countertops, allowing the home to live as beautifully as it entertains. Interior rooms and garden areas were pre-wired for high-end sound, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. Upstairs, the primary suite serves as a private sanctuary, opening to a double-doored balcony with peek-a-boo ocean views beyond the rolling fairways of the Fred Couples-designed championship golf course and adjacent natural preserve. Yet it is the grounds that truly set this property apart. The backyard unfolds in terraces of aged brick, a rare architectural landscape that evokes the romance of the Italian coast. Imported Italian planters frame the estate, while mature landscaping forms a living wall of privacy, enclosing the property in quiet seclusion. Strategically placed water features provide a constant, soothing soundtrack as birds move through the trees throughout the day. At the heart of the garden, a resort-caliber pool shimmers with imported Walker Zanger Italian tile, paired with a heated spa that spills gently into the pool in a continuous cascade. Sunlight moves across brick and water as the day unfolds, creating an atmosphere that is immersive, transportive, and remarkably serene. Every pathway, hedge, and terrace has been considered with intention. The outdoor experience is not an accessory to the home. It is its soul.