• 98% of multi-generational travellers highly satisfied with their trip (AARP)
• Italy perfect for whole-family holidays (Appassionata)
• 83% of travellers highlight bringing family together as top benefit of multi-generational holidays (AARP)

Italy is a country synonymous with proud family heritage. Family values and the coming together of generations – particularly over meal times – are seemingly decaying in many countries, but in Italy these traditions are still strong. The country has found a way to embrace the contemporary world without losing its family bonds, to the benefit of future generations.

“Family is so important here,” observes Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of luxury holiday home company Appassionata. “We work with local artisans to source unique products – everything from lamp shades to wrought iron gates – and so many of them are third or fourth generation craftsmen, carrying forward the skills that they learnt at their father or grandfather’s knee.”

Dawn herself runs her business with several of her own family members. Husband Michael, daughter India and son-in-law Charlie all work together to present Appassionata’s luxury fractional ownership holiday homes to a global audience of owners, all of whom share a passion for Italy and the country’s way of life. Even little grandson Lucas likes to pitch in at busy times, like the olive and grape harvests.

With such a strong family focus, Italy makes an ideal location for multi-generational family trips, something that the latest research from AARP Travel has found are satisfying to 98% of travellers. The Le Marche region, where the Appassionata team is based, appeals to the whole family, with plentiful Blue Flag beaches, the Sibillini National Park, friendly towns and fantastic dining options.

The AARP Travel research has found that the top benefits of multi-generational holidays are precisely those that Italy has to offer. 83% of respondents felt that bringing the entire family together was the greatest benefit, 69% felt that it was helping build special memories and 50% felt that it was grandparents being able to spend time with their grandchildren.

Chris Everard, who owns a share in Appassionata’s three bedroom, three bathroom townhouse, Casa Tre Archi (fractions are available from £75,000 for five weeks’ exclusive use per year), took his daughter, son-in-law and brand new granddaughter to stay there recently. He feels that Le Marche makes an ideal holiday spot for multi-generational vacations. Not only are Casa Tre Archi and the local town of Petritoli ideal for a relaxed holiday, but the nearby facilities are fantastic. Chris comments,

“Within an easy 20 minute drive you arrive on the Adriatic coast and have the opportunity to enjoy a true Italian beach experience. Impossible to work out Italian family combinations arrive, make camp, squabble, play Boule, disappear for a three-hour lunch and return to sleep the afternoon away whilst various grandparents take it in turns to look after the bambini’s.”

Appassionata’s India Hobbs-Mauger adds,

“Le Marche is the perfect destination for whole-family trips as it is so welcoming to children. There are loads of activities here to keep everyone entertained and towns like Petritoli are just charming, whatever your age. It’s a wonderful family destination.”

For more information visit www.appassionata.com or contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225.

• US buyer numbers up in Le Marche (Magic Marche)
• Italy comes third on Americans’ European summer vacation list (InsureMyTrip)
• 67% of buyers so far at Casa Tre Archi in Le Marche are from the US (Appassionata)

US second home buyers are scoping out Europe this summer, with the UK, France and Italy enjoying the lion’s share of their interest. According to InsureMyTrip, the three European countries will be the most popular destinations for travel beyond the US’s borders between June and August 2015.

But it’s not just a vacation for all– an increasing number are looking to pick up a second home while on their travels, at least that’s the case in Italy, according to Jane Smith of local property agency Magic Marche. Jane explains,

“Our enquiry rate for the first half of 2015 is over 20% higher than for the same period in 2014. With a strong US dollar against the Euro, buyers from the USA have increased in numbers. Restored country houses remain the most popular choice but we’ve also seen a growing trend in townhouses, where buyers can enjoy the benefits of having shops, restaurants, cafés and local markets right on their doorstep.”

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of family-run holiday home company Appassionata, is certainly familiar with the increase in US buyers. Her latest luxury fractional ownership home, Casa Tre Archi, has so far attracted keen interest Stateside, with 67% of owners coming from America. Of the six Discovery Trips booked for the coming three months, where interested parties can visit Le Marche and stay in the property, five are families from the US. Dawn comments,

“Italy is a tourist destination enjoyed by visitors from all over the world and many of those hail from the US. Our two countries have ties that span centuries and modern-day Italy still holds many attractions for American visitors. We’ve found that many of those who come here are utterly charmed by Italy’s attributes, from its stunning architecture to its beautiful beaches, as well as the local cuisine and the open, welcoming nature of regions like Le Marche.”

American Deb Gale, who owns a fraction in one of Appassionata’s other properties, Casa Leopardi, describes the area as, “an astonishing combination of land, sea, sun and history, colliding with culture and casual sophistication. You cannot help but love the food, the wine, the restaurants and the markets.”

In line with current market trends, the Appassionata team opted for a townhouse for their third luxury property, having previously restored two fabulous country homes. Dawn explains the decision,

“We chose to go down the urban fractional route in order to offer owners a luxury property that had all the amenities they could wish for within walking distance. Many families prefer to stroll into town to find a restaurant for dinner and enjoy a glass of local wine, without having to decide who will be the designated driver on the way home. Or to let the children head to the local bakery for early morning pastries, while the adults keep a watchful eye on them from the roof terrace. Casa Tre Archi enables all of this and more – it’s the ideal holiday property in the ideal location. We knew it as soon as we first viewed it.”

Fractions in Casa Tre Archi are available from £75,000 for five weeks’ exclusive use per year.

For more information visit www.appassionata.com or contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225.

• Inspection trip to paperwork completion in just 14 days (Appassionata)
• 503,000 passengers pass through Ancona airport annually (Europe Airports)
• Le Marche perfect for “so many different types of discovery” (Colleen Rouse)

A couple from Kent are challenging the perception that buying a property overseas is a huge undertaking that requires significant time, having just used their pension savings to purchase their Italian dream home in a timescale of only two weeks.

Colleen and Duncan Rouse had been waiting patiently for Duncan’s retirement before buying a property abroad, in order to make sure they had the time to use it properly. When his retirement finally happened, the couple decided they were done with waiting and prepared to put their pension to good use. They set off for their beloved Italy on an inspection trip to see luxury fractional ownership property Casa Tre Archi, in Le Marche.

Colleen recalls,

“The buying process was so straightforward and easy and was accomplished in just 14 days from our first overnight visit to Casa Tre Archi to completion and ownership. We have always loved the Italian people and the way of life. We love the landscape of Le Marche and its position, which offers beautiful countryside, hilltop towns and villages between the sea and the mountains, providing opportunities for so many different types of discovery. Also the convenience of having a number of airports within reasonable driving distance, offering a whole range of flights from and to the UK.”

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of family-run, Le Marche-based Appassionata, the company behind Casa Tre Archi, comments,

“One of the great joys of renovating properties in this area of Italy is that we can furnish and decorate the houses by working with local artisans who are the third, fourth or even fifth generation to run their business. It means that each of our holiday homes is filled with unique touches, from hand-painted wall tiles to individually crafted lamps, the techniques for which have been passed down through the family for generations.

“But that doesn’t mean that we have to run the paperwork side of the business in the same way. There’s a time and place for embracing modern efficiency! We want our owners to have a hassle-free buying experience so that they can begin to look forward to using the property as quickly as possible.”

This blending of modern convenience with ancient traditions is a core part of Appassionata’s recipe for success. After a quick and efficient journey to Italy thanks to the multiple routes into nearby Ancona airport (which Europe Airports reports is used by more than half a million passengers each year), owners love to indulge in long, relaxed dinners on the roof terrace of Casa Tre Archi, using ingredients like truffles and game that the rolling Le Marche farmland has supplied since time immemorial. Or perhaps stroll along the cobbled streets of the medieval town of Petritoli. As Colleen observes,

“We like the idea of living in a town where we can go out for a meal in one of the local restaurants and know that we can walk home. We live in a village in Kent where we have the pleasure to interact with people from all walks of life and we hope to be able to meet real people in Petritoli too.”

For those eager to share in the Italian dream, fractions in Casa Tre Archi are available from £70,000 for five weeks’ exclusive use per year.

For more information visit www.appassionata.com or contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225.

• Italian food exports hit record €34.3 billion (Coldiretti)
• Le Marche flagged as latest Italian foodie holiday hotspot (Appassionata)
• US taste for Italian wine exceeds €1.1 billion (Coldiretti)

The Universal Exposition is one of the most important global events for bringing countries together to share knowledge, innovation and traditions. It is due to the Universal Expo that Paris has the Eiffel Tower, that Brussels has the Atomium and that Seattle has the Space Needle.

The present day Universal Expo still maintains its focus on technological advancement, but with a more humanitarian bent. Expo Milano 2015, which is being hosted by Milan, Italy, from 1 May to 31 October, is focused on the use of technology and innovation to provide safe, healthy, sufficient food for the world’s entire population. Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life expects to welcome more than 20 million visitors from over 140 countries over the six months that it is running. Visitors will be able to engage in a variety of activities, from tastings of the world’s best dishes to explorations of gastronomic traditions to discussion of the best agri-foods for feeding the planet.

Italy is the natural choice for hosting such an important food-focused event. Its food exports circumnavigate the globe and its sparkling prosecco now outsells France’s champagne in volume terms. In 2014, Italy’s food exports hit record levels, with a value of €34.3 billion, according to Coldiretti’s analysis of data from national statistics agency ISTAT. The figure represents an increase of 2.4% over the previous year, with the Russian ban on numerous food imports more than counteracted by the American thirst for Italian wine, which totalled more than €1.1 billion worth during the year.

While two thirds of Italian food exports are destined for other European countries according to the Coldiretti analysis, demand is also high from the US market and the growing market in Asia. Wine, pasta and olive oil are the most prized Italian products, backed by a significant appetite for Italian cheese, fruit and vegetables.

Of course Italian food also draws huge numbers of tourists to Italy every year in search of the taste of authenticity. The latest foodie destination hotspot is Le Marche, where an abundance of truffles,

game and seafood have been delighting the local population’s palates for centuries. Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs founder of Le Marche-based luxury fractional ownership business Appassionata, comments,

“People think of Italy’s food and picture the ultimate feast of pizza, pasta and ice cream. While Italy does offer all of these, there is such huge diversity across the country in terms of other dishes that you really have to immerse yourself in it in order to discover everything. Even after living here for years, I am still discovering incredible new recipes that use traditional techniques to make simple, fresh ingredients just come alive with flavour.”

Those looking to get up close and personal with Italian cuisine can base themselves at Appassionata’s Casa Tre Archi holiday home in the medieval hilltop town of Petritoli. The three storey townhouse provides its owners with five weeks’ exclusive usage per year, at a cost of £70,000 per fraction. With a roof terrace that is perfect for outdoor dining, the scents of local cafés and restaurants filling the air and views of crops waving gently in the breeze for miles and miles, it is hard to imagine a better base from which to explore the tastes of Italy.

For more information visit www.appassionata.com or contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225.

• Number of Blue Flag beaches in Italy increases to 280 (FEE)
• Le Marche region home to 17 of the cleanest Italian beaches (FEE)
• Le Marche’s Petritoli 20 mins from three Blue Flag beaches and home to Appassionata’s Casa Tre Archi

The number of Italian beaches granted the prestigious international Blue Flag award has this year grown to 280. An increase of an impressive 11 beaches on 2014, when 269 met the strict requirements, those granted the accolade by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) are recognised as those locations with the very cleanest waters and the most pristine of sands.

Taking third place in this important listing, behind the more tourist-centric regions of Liguria (with 23) and Tuscany (with 18), is the somewhat more undiscovered region of Le Marche, a location that, although growing in popularity, manages to retain a true sense of authentic Italia. Having been granted Bandiera Blu, or Blue Flag, awards for 17 of their beaches for two years in a row, this is set to further increase the popularity of the beautiful region with visiting tourists and holiday home buyers alike.

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, Founder of fractional ownership company Appassionata, whose latest project Casa Tre Archi is located in Le Marche’s beautiful hilltop town of Petritoli, comments,

“The stunning Le Marche region in which we have renovated a number of beautiful properties, including Casa Tre Archi, and that we are also lucky enough to call home, boasts 180km of Adriatic coastline, all of which is eye-catching and some of which is the proud recipient of the prestigious Blue Flag award. With it being said that the granting of such an accolade can increase regional tourism by some 35%, this can only spell good things for a region that has so very much to offer to visitors, locals and those looking to purchase a base for their holidays in the wonderful Italy.”

As Dawn references, from Petritoli’s hilltop position, three of Le Marche’s Blue Flag beaches are within easy reach, all less than a twenty minute drive away. Of Fermo’s four beaches referenced by the 2015 awards, both Porto San Giorgio and Pedaso are easily reached by car from Petritoli, joining the commune of Ascoli Piceno’s three, one of which, Grottammare, is close by too.

Many of the coasts’ golden sandy beaches are protected by small rocky breakwaters, making the sun-kissed Adriatic waters safe for all the family to swim in and for those looking for something a little more adventurous, there are various water sports on offer, from sailing to windsurfing, scuba diving to fishing.

With Petritoli being one such standout hilltop town, Appassionata’s Casa Tre Archi is built into the ancient walls of the town, with the traditional rough-hewn brickwork a unique and beautiful feature of the lounge which, like all of the townhouse, is impeccably attired with furniture and fittings individually-sourced locally to provide a luxurious but homely feel.

The 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom property enjoys outdoor space on three levels and even has a spectacular 50m² roof terrace with views across Petritoli, the rolling countryside, and sea views, making the very most of the region’s award-winning coastline. With beamed ceilings and traditional terracotta floors, Casa Tre Archi is ideally situated close to shops, restaurants and cafes too.

The property is offered as part of a fractional ownership scheme and shares of 1/10^th of the property, offering five weeks’ exclusive use annually, are available from £70,000.

For more information, contact Appassionata on +39 33154 13225 or visit www.appassionata.com.

• Over 6 million UK adults plan to retire abroad, with 10% choosing Italy as their preferred destination (Hargreaves Lansdown)
• 20% of 55-75 year old UK adults are considering taking cash out of their pensions under new regulations (ABTA)
• Le Marche ranked in top places in the world to retire in 2014 (American Association of Retired Person)

With new legislation changes having recently become effective, UK citizens over the age of 55 are now be able to spend, save or invest their pension as they deem appropriate. These latest regulations offer people the freedom and flexibility to decide for themselves the best option for their retirement. In light of this, a recent survey, from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), discovered that 20% of UK adults are already considering taking a cash lump sum out of their pensions, with over 35% of these people wishing to spend it on travel.

Today, the dream of retiring overseas is becoming increasingly popular with over 6 million UK adults now planning to move abroad when they reach national retirement age. Recent figures published by Hargreaves Lansdown show that 10% of those wishing to enjoy their retirement abroad would select Italy as their destination of choice, and with a rich blend of historical architecture, luscious landscapes, sun-kissed beaches and glistening mountain tops, the idyllic notion of retiring to Italy can now become a possibility.

In 2014, the American Association of Retired Person (AARP) surveyed their vast membership of over 39 million, and discovered that Italy’s Le Marche region had been voted one of the top five places in the world to retire. Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, Founder of Appassionata, a fractional ownership company in Le Marche understands this growing aspiration to retire here, having relocated from the UK herself some seven years ago,

“The rolling hills of vineyards, olive groves and sunflowers was certainly one of the deciding factors for our move to the countryside of Le Marche. With each passing season there is a new vista of colour and light. The Italian countryside truly is a special place, especially for people nearing retirement who are looking for a sense of community and belonging within a new environment. Here, beautiful surroundings combine with a traditional feel that means it really is like stepping back in time, where strangers say good morning and neighbours are always willing to help.”

However, even with the recent changes to pension legislation, many people in the UK reaching retirement age will not be able to fully purchase a property overseas, finding the dream still financially out of their reach. An alternative to the more traditional approach to whole property ownership is fractional ownership, allowing buyers to enjoy the best of retirement both home and away at a reduced cost. With fractional ownership you own a share of a property, which has professional and continuing local management, in exchange for exclusive occupancy for a number of weeks throughout the year.

As leaders in the Italian fractional ownership market, Dawn from Appassionata explains more about the advantages of this option for many retirees,

“Fractional ownership is an appealing possibility to people who are now accessing their pension pots and looking to make an investment in a luxury overseas property. For many their lump sum is not large enough to buy a luxurious property outright so buying a 1/10^th fraction makes perfect sense, providing all the benefits of full ownership without the full cost as all running expenses are divided equally among co-owners. We have definitely seen an increase in enquires since the new legislation became effective, with a number of owners keen to access their pension pots to buy a share in our beautiful Petritoli property.”

Appassionata’s most recent restoration project to offer fractional ownership is Casa Tre Archi, a townhouse set in the centre of the enchanting medieval Le Marche town of Petritoli. The unique property has three bedrooms and, unusually for an urban Italian property of this nature, enjoys outdoor space on three levels, plenty of space to accommodate all the family. This includes a small rear garden off the kitchen, a terrace off one of the bedrooms and a spectacular roof terrace with views of Petritoli and the surrounding countryside, perfect for soaking up the Italian sunshine. The house benefits from three bathrooms: one en suite off the master bedroom, one upstairs family bathroom and one small bathroom off the living area on the ground floor.

Tre Archi enjoys sea views, beamed ceilings with traditional, terracotta tiled floors and easy access to nearby parking. The townhouse provides the best of town living, perfect for retirees who want to meander from their home to a choice of shops, restaurants and cafes, combined with miles of sandy beaches just a short drive away. The security and maintenance of the property are administered by Appassionata’s management company and on arrival owners will find Casa Tre Archi beautifully prepared, with all essential groceries ready for convenience. Prices start from £70,000 and are for a 1/10th share, which will entitle the owners to five weeks’ exclusive use of the property per year.

For more information contact Appassionata on +39 33154 13225 or visit www.appassionata.com