Friday May 9, 10:38 AM

Brangelina to go Italian?

By Splash Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie want to buy an Italian castle - next to pal George Clooney's luxury villa, according to reports.

An Italian newspaper claims the showbiz couple are keen to purchase a new home on Lake Como in Corenno Plinio, Italy.

And they want it to be near Clooney's luxury mansion in Laglio, which he snapped up in 2002.

Brad and Angelina are understood to have been looking for a European home for the last two years - but have not found the right place yet.

In 2006 they reportedly took a helicopter ride to scope out potential properties around Cannes and St Tropez in the south of France.

The movie stars are now back in France again, staying in Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's Villa Maryland in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat on the French Riviera.

They are expected to stay there for the birth of their child and are believed to have been house-hunting again.

But according to the Italian newspaper, Brangelina's search for a home has extended to Italy.

Lake Como, the country's third largest lake, is nestled in northern Italy, between lush Mediterranean foliage and snowy alpine peaks.

It is a popular tourist destination and a good venue for sports such as sailing, windsurfing and kite-surfing.

The couple have reportedly been keen on the area since Clooney - Brad's co-star in the 'Oceans' films - bought his villa there.

In 2006 rumours began circulating that the couple were going to wed in Italy - either on a boat on Lake Como itself, or at Clooney's home.

But the Batman star laughed off the speculation and Brad and Angelina have said they will not marry until gay marriages become legal everywhere.

If the Mr. and Mrs. Smith stars do snap up an Italian castle for themselves and their children, they had better not expect Clooney to babysit.

The Leatherheads star recently revealed that spending time with the couple and their kids made him nervous.

"Even one kid running around my villa makes me nervous, so I'm definitely not a candidate for father of the year," he said.

"If I need to surround myself with children and feel like I have this big extended family, I can always call Brad and Angie and ask them to stay with me, just to remind me why I'm so happy without."

But the actor said he was unlikely to invite Brad and Angelina to stay in his Lake Como villa, because he doesn't have enough space for their ever-expanding brood.

"I really don't have enough space for all their children," he said.

"Also, Brad and Angelina need a security deal of about 20 guys wearing dark suits and carrying walkie-talkies, and that tends to attract attention."

It is uncertain how the Lake Como residents will react if Brad and Angelina carry on with their plan to buy an Italian castle.

Clooney was forced to apologise to his neighbours after movie Oceans 12 caused disruption while filming there.

Locals in Laglio were furious when streets were closed, part of the lake was made a no-go area and the village was invaded by fans.

The actor send a note, written in English and translated into Italian, to all 400 residents, saying sorry for the "inconvenience" and thanking them for accepting him into their community.