The Ludus Magnus villa is new for 2023 (Picture: ITV)

Love Island really took the concept of the new year and ran with it for their second ever Winter Love Island.

This year’s series has a new villa, a new host and some new rules.

While new host Maya Jama has wasted no time in wowing audiences, people are curious about the new villa situated in South Africa.

Who owns the palatial home?

Who owns Ludus Magnus, the Love Island 2023 villa?

Ludus Magnus, named after Rome’s ancient gladiator school, is the stunning property which is home to this year’s contestants, including Lana Jenkins and Ron Hall.

The villa is decked out with an Olympic training pool, 400m running track, state-of-the-art rugby field, and a zip line.

It is a slice of heaven on earth (Picture: Ludus.magnus.co.za)

The Roman name could be a slight nod to one of the owners. While not much is known about them, the official website for the villa explains that the villa is the brainchild of its owners, “a dynamic French-Italian couple.”

The write-up online reads: ‘Positioned in the heart of the majestic Franschhoek wine valley; famed for its vineyards, scenery, French heritage and cuisine.’

‘Whether it’s a romantic getaway, family holiday, active adventure or simply a change in pace from urban hustle, a stay at Ludus Magnus is guaranteed to wow and delight.’

The property was owned by a mysterious French-Italian couple. Chic! (Picture: Ludus.magnus.co.za)

‘Named after a Roman gladiator school, Ludus Magnus is the meticulous innovative creation by owners, a dynamic French-Italian couple who packed up life in Europe and moved with their 3 children and 5 adored dogs to live in Franschhoek a few years ago.’

Who owns the previous Love Island villa?

Love Island’s more familiar villa, the one in Majorca, is owned by a multi-millionaire and German businessman called Nikolaus Broschek, who is faintly related to the Queen MailOnline previously reported.

Nikolaus, 77, acquired the villa in 2000 and has been lending it to ITV for three months over the summer for the past three years.

Before that, the Love Island villa was located in the south of the island in Ses Salines.

Ingeborg Princess of Schleswig-Holstein and Nikolaus Broschek live together in Hamburg after marrying in 1991 (Photo by Christian Augustin/Getty Images)

Mr Broschek is married to Princess Ingeborg Schleswig-Holstein – a 4th great granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

The Princess also has links to monarchy in Denmark and Norway, and worked as artist Andy Warhol’s assistant in the 1980s.

Her own large-scale abstract paintings were displayed at various exhibitions around the world including America and the UK.

The couple also have a son together, who was born in 1995, and they spend a lot of their time at their home in Hamburg.

The outdoor breakfast bar is just one feature of the property (Picture: ITV)

The fire pit is an integral part of proceedings (Picture: Rex Shutterstock)

Who owns the previous Casa Amor villa?

Casa Amor, the second villa designed to tempt the Islanders with new arrivals, is reportedly moving to a new location this year.

Show bosses have given nothing away about where the new villa might be or who owns it, but it’s likely it will be close to the location of the main villa.

The previous, four-bedroom villa was located just moments away and, while a lot smaller, was still luxury in every sense of the word, boasting five bathrooms, two roof terraces, a master suite and a pool.

Love Island continues on ITV2 tonight at 9pm

MORE : Love Island viewers think Olivia Hawkins and Zara Lackenby-Brown knew each other before villa after spotting clues

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The romantic retreat is located in South Africa.