• Italy home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world
• Positive trend in Italian tourism, especially cities associated with art (ENIT)
• Fractional ownership offers the charm and romance of a historical second home without hidden costs (Appassionata)

Housing the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it would be difficult to find a destination with a richer history than Italy. Boasting an eclectic array of historic and natural beauty, Italy is at the heart of cultural tourism with many ancient attractions dating back thousands of years. With the Colosseum and the city of Pompeii the country’s most visited tourist attractions in 2014, it is apparent that Italy’s historical magnetism continues to charm persistent crowds from across the globe.

New tourism figures suggest that cities inextricably linked to Italian art are set for an increasing amount of visitors in 2015. This increasing desire to experience Italy’s extensive and captivating past is not a new phenomenon, with The Grand Tour becoming a long standing tradition from the mid-17^th century right up until the end of the 18^th century.

Travelling through Europe, the Tour provided the opportunity for young, upper class Englishmen who wished to learn and thrive in the artistic and historic culture of the mainland, especially Italy. With the explosion of creativity, known as the Renaissance, born in central Italy, evidence of its artistic conceptions can be found throughout the region.

With such a celebrated and distinctive past, it is not surprising that many prospective second homeowners are also looking to Italy for their own glimpse of artistic history. Following the topical movement set by tourists, potential buyers are pursuing more historic properties rich in traditional Italian architecture.

A beautiful example of this growing trend is Casa Tre Archi, fractional ownership company Appassionata’s latest restoration project. Set in Italy’s Le Marche region, Appassionata sell fractions in charming, historic properties that have been personally restored by founder Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs and family.

As an interior designer, Dawn explains why these historic qualities are so important to Appassionata,

“When restoring a historic property, it is vital that we create a balance between the traditional features of the building and the more modern touches of contemporary living. Being involved throughout the project from start to finish, we are able to source local, traditional furnishings in keeping with the exterior of the building and the region itself.

“Fractional ownership offers people the opportunity to purchase their own individual piece of Italian history, without the risk of additional restoration expenses or restrictions that many historical properties could incur.”

Situated in the heart of Italy’s central region, Le Marche is abounding with traces of its exemplary history and illustrious architecture. Perched on a hilltop, in the Fermo province of Le Marche, sits the captivating medieval village of Petritoli. Immediately greeted with a sense of grandeur, the entrance to the village is distinguished by ‘Tre Archi’ also known as the Three Arches. These magnificent 19^th century, neo-gothic arches are built into the walls of Petritoli and create an aura of historical significance on arrival.

Built into these ancient town walls, Appassionata’s Casa Tre Archi provides accommodation of three bedrooms and three bathrooms in a luxurious townhouse setting. With beamed ceilings and traditional terracotta-tiled floors, the property is close to a range of local shops and restaurants and has a small garden as well as the roof terrace. The property is offered as part of a fractional ownership scheme whereby a share of 1/10th of the property offers five weeks’ exclusive use annually, available from £70,000.

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

• Foreign visitor arrivals to Italy grow from 42 to more than 50 million (2008 – 2014 (Confturismo-Confocommercio)
• Italian visitors stay for 3.7 days on average, compared to 5.1 days in Spain (Confturismo-Confocommercio)
• Fractional ownership the perfect answer to the growing demand for shorter holiday stays (Appassionata)

For as long as can be remembered, Italy has been synonymous with love, associated with passion and is the go-to destination for romance, wooing a loved one and falling head over heels. It is for this reason – alongside the warmth of the locals, the breathtaking scenery, compelling history, and expressive culture – that it often makes the number one spot in lists of top honeymoon destinations in Europe, and often the world.

Yet with proposals a plenty at locations such as the Fontana di Trevi in Rome or the Ponte di Rialto in Venice, and the Costiera Amalfitana drawing those looking to stage the most romantic of weddings, interestingly a new trend has begun to emerge that reveals that growing numbers of people are now in fact choosing Italy as the location with which to have a part-time affair.

The Confturismo-Confocommercio has released figures that show that whilst the number of tourists visiting Italy are booming, growing from a 2008 figure of 42 million foreign visitor arrivals to more than 50 million in 2014, far outpacing the growth of other popular European travel destinations such as Spain and France, the number of days that visitors are staying are less. While visitors spend an average of 5.1 days in Spain, Italian visitors stay for 3.7 days on average, meaning that more and more people are looking to the country of amore for a part-time love affair.

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, Founder of Appassionata, a fractional ownership company in Italy’s Le Marche region, agrees that they have also seen evidence of this new trend,

“Fractional ownership is the perfect answer to the growing demand for shorter holiday stays, whether it is because time is today at more of a premium for people due to family or work commitments or due to budget constraints, and we have certainly seen this in the growing number of enquiries we have had in the past three months.

“Always a popular second home destination, Italy is drawing more and more visitors year-on-year and those that visit want to make the very most of their precious time. Fractional ownership, where people purchase a share in a property that gives them a set amount of usage annually, suits this ideally as it provides value for money and also a property that is ready to host owners, fully equipped and offering all the benefits of home ownership but without the commitment.”

Appassionata’s latest project, the beautiful townhouse Casa Tre Archi situated in the stunning hilltop town of Petritoli in Le Marche, offers just this kind of part-time commitment, perfect for those who have fallen for Italy’s charms yet only wish to make her their beautiful part-time mistress.

The three bedroom property which boasts a stunning roof terrace and close proximity to authentic, award-winning restaurants, makes part of the ancient town wall an exposed feature in the lounge, giving the property character and Italian charm. The property is diligently managed throughout the year, meaning that not only is it a more affordable holiday home option but owners also do not have to worry about maintenance constraints usually associated with full property ownership.

Ownership of a fraction in Casa Tre Archi provides five weeks usage on an annual basis, allocated via a system that ensures fair distribution, and unlike a timeshare scheme gives buyers the ability to sell, will, transfer or place in a trust their ownership at any time and also to benefit from the appreciation in value of the property over time.

A share of 1/10th of the Casa Tre Archi is available from £65,000. For more information, contact Appassionata on +39 33154 13225 or visit www.appassionata.com

• 80% increase in companies holding meetings overseas (ICCA)
• Number of international meetings held in Italy increases 14.62% in a year (ICCA)
• Fractional property provides ideal solution for overseas meetings & employee benefit (Appassionata)

With the end of the financial year looming and the final budget before the General Election having just passed by, UK companies are looking to get their house in order by filing their accounts, tallying up profits and assessing how best to approach the new tax year. As part of this reassessment and future planning often comes how best to build the business and look after staff, an essential part of any success, and this is where a new trend is emerging.

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has released data from its members that has revealed a growing number of companies are looking overseas to hold their meetings, recording a 4.80% increase in companies doing this during the period of 2012 to 2013.

A move that brings a whole host of benefits, including facilities that potentially cannot be found within the UK, provision of a central meeting point for delegates around the world, thus improving accessibility, and of course the added bonus of warmer weather and sunnier climes to encourage a relaxed atmosphere ideal for maximising productivity.

Taking this concept one step further, some companies are even choosing to purchase their very own overseas property that can be used as a base for such meetings and also in turn be used as a key incentive for staff.

Fractional ownership company Appassionata, based in the region of Le Marche in Italy, has certainly noticed this growing trend themselves. The company sells fractions in beautiful, traditional Italian properties that have been personally restored to the highest of standards by the family business, properties that have recently come to the attention of businesses looking for an overseas space for company meetings.

Founder of Appassionata, Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, explains more,

“Fractional ownership perfectly suits businesses looking to purchase property that can be used both for international meetings and as a staff benefit and we have certainly seen more businesses enquiring about this post-recession. Not only is it a cheaper alternative to whole property ownership but the fact that the fraction provides a certain number of weeks usage a year means that businesses are only paying for the period of time they need.

“Our latest project, the gorgeous townhouse of Casa Tre Archi in the hilltop town of Petritoli, suits this need perfectly as it has a breathtaking roof terrace that is the ideal break-out space for meetings – providing peace and quiet framed by showstopping views of rolling countryside, perfect for grounding yourself and brainstorming. Certainly inspirational – we even have Wi-Fi throughout so staying connected is easy! It is also ideally situated close to restaurants and bars, plus a short drive from the beach, meaning that those visiting as part of an incentive scheme can make the very most of their time here.”

With the area of Le Marche visually inspiring and beautifully tranquil, companies that purchase a fraction can use their designated weeks to incentivise staff, offering them the chance to take time away with family and friends. Purchasing through a fractional vehicle for business purposes also means it can be sold on, therefore becoming a company asset and one which is likely to increase in value. Previous Appassionata projects, Casa Leopardi and Casa Giacomo for example, have seen this kind of growth, with owners who have sold on their fractions making a profit on their original purchase.

As the company has shown, Italy is proving a hot choice for businesses looking to host their meetings overseas. For the past two years the country has taken sixth spot in the ICCA ‘The International Association Meetings Market 2013’ report’s most popular places to hold an international meeting list, registering an increase of 14.62% year-on-year, cementing the country’s place on the world stage as a top business meeting destination.

Appassionata’s Casa Tre Archi provides accommodation of three bedrooms and three bathrooms in a luxurious townhouse setting, built into the ancient town walls of Petritoli. With beamed ceilings and traditional terracotta-tiled floors, the property is close to a range of local shops and restaurants and has a small garden as well as the roof terrace. The property is offered as part of a fractional ownership scheme and a share of 1/10^th of the property offering five weeks’ exclusive use annually, is available from £65,000.

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

• First ever truffles discovered by Appassionata on Montefiore land
• At the same time, first cultivated truffle discovered on UK soil paving way for growing industry
• Le Marche is a ‘foodie paradise’ known for olives, wild game, seafood and wine

12^th March 2015 will always be a date to remember for the Cavanagh-Hobbs family. Henceforth it will forever be known as ‘Truffle Day’ or more precisely ‘Giorno del Tartufo’, for it was the day they first discovered this rare ‘black diamond’ beneath their land in Montefiore dell ‘Aso, Italy.

Having moved to the breathtaking region of Le Marche, similarly beauty-blessed neighbour of Tuscany, from the UK eight years ago to found fractional ownership company Appassionata, Michael Hobbs and his wife Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs wanted to truly immerse themselves in Italian life. Not content with simply renovating stunning rustic and urban properties, the family also purchased a ‘tartufaia’ or truffle plantation in 2010, a site of 7 acres that had had 1,240 trees inoculated with the Tuber Melanosporum fungus – or the Perigord Black Truffle.

Yet, as is the case with all truffle plantations, the Cavanagh-Hobbs family were in for a long wait. Notoriously difficult to farm and calling for a great deal of time and patience, truffles take between seven and twelve years to emerge, if they do at all, hence their status as a culinary delicacy, expensive to produce and purchase. Yet, having periodically searched the land with locally trained dogs over the years, it seems that this was the year the family would stumble upon their very own ‘black gold’.

Michael Hobbs, Founder of luxury property company Appassionata, explains more about their exciting discovery,

“The Appassionata Tartufaia is a magical place, generating an aura and energy that is hard to quantify, it makes you tingle. I have always felt that there was activity underground and the developing brules (burnt brown circles) that formed around the trees were an indication of mycorrhizal activity. We have been working hard while waiting for the truffles to appear and occasionally checked for truffles but it was during our last walk of this season that we found our first ever truffles.

“We didn’t have high expectations of finding them and were really just going through the motions but after 10 minutes of the dogs going from tree to tree, the young dog Balou got excited and started digging at the base of one of the trees near to the fence line. The handler pulled her back to inspect and carefully dug around the disturbed soil and hey presto we had found our very first truffle!”

Like all treasure-troves, the tartufaia, or truffle plantation, soon began to spill forth its jewels, as more and more truffles of varying shapes and sizes were literally unearthed from the dusty soil beneath. With the largest a behemoth weighing some 79g, the joy on the family’s faces could not be hidden as all their hard work was seen to pay off – at long last! With an eventual haul of 370g of black truffles in one small area, covering half a dozen trees, the prospects for the future of the site looks very bright indeed.

Yet March 2015 has not only been a landmark truffle time for this Le Marche family, their discovery also times perfectly with uncovering of the very first cultivated truffle on British soil. Just two days before the Montefiore discovery, Paul Thomas unearthed the start of a batch of the UK’s first ever commercially-produced truffles, in Leicestershire, paving the way for a new, growing industry that could prove highly lucrative. In turn, this could also prove true for the Cavanagh-Hobbs family who plan to develop their truffle sideline by selling both the raw article and investigating the creation of a range of authentic truffle-infused products, potentially utilising locally-produced olive oil and cheeses.

Michael Hobbs explains how he feels their recent discovery helps highlight the region’s gastronomic delights,

“Le Marche really is a foodie’s paradise. Freshly-produced oil from the finest olives ripened under seemingly endless sunny skies, wild game and smoky sausage, fresh seafood, not to mention the wonderful local wines that grace the region, are all part of the distinctive cucina tipica that puts Le Marche on the map and is drawing more and more attention worldwide. At Appassionata we are proud to be a part of this ongoing tradition, producing our very own olive oil, wine, lavender crop – and now truffles too!”

And as the Cavanagh-Hobbs family celebrated by eating the first truffle found, carefully slicing it over a frittata alongside some local salami and 30-month old parmigiana, rounding it off with their very own Marche Rosso, a 2013 Montepulciano, they looked forward to welcoming new owners of their latest project Casa Tre Archi to the gastronomic wonders of the region, including their newly treasured truffles!

Casa Tre Archi from Appassionata is a beautifully unique property of three bedrooms and three bathrooms, built into the ancient town walls of Le Marche’s Petritoli. Featuring a turret wall as part of the lounge, the townhouse also boasts a stunning roof terrace with standout views across the rolling hills of Le Marche and has been renovated to the very highest of standards.

A luxurious yet homely property, Casa Tre Archi enjoys sea views, beamed ceilings and traditional terracotta-tiled floors and is close to a range of local shops and restaurants and a short drive from beautiful sandy beaches. The property is offered as part of a fractional ownership scheme and shares of 1/10^th of the property providing five weeks’ exclusive use annually, are available from £65,000.

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

• Le Marche registers greater tourism growth than Tuscany, with 6.3% year-on-year growth (I.Stat)
• Le Marche properties 35% cheaper than Tuscany (Magic Marche)
• Casa Tre Archi, stunning fractional Le Marche property from Appassionata, offers affordable luxury

The latest figures from I.Stat, the Italian National Tourist Board, reveal that the previously undiscovered region of Le Marche is now outshining Tuscany in tourism growth.

Tuscany, famed since the 90s as one of the world’s top tourist destinations, registered an increase of 4.6% in foreign arrivals from 2012 to 2013, whilst the far more unknown neighbouring region of Le Marche saw impressive growth of 6.3% year-on-year.

With 389,313 visitors now arriving on Marche soil, more and more people are beginning to recognise that this Italian location has all the benefits of close-by Tuscany, seemingly endless rolling hills, beautiful open spaces and ancient hilltop towns, yet without the hefty pricetag.

A brighter spotlight now being shone on Le Marche as increasing numbers of people learn of its charms: friendly locals on hand to help each other out or savour a delicious three course lunch, longer for formal occasions, with family and friends gathered close. Surrounded by stunning countryside, enveloped by the warm sunshine as joyous gazes fall on ancient architecture and well-worn stones that tell stories of the true Italy of old, reassuring and beautiful; enlightening and eye-opening.

The Marche region is the true microcosm of ‘la dolce vita’, with much to offer to locals and tourists alike and yet somewhat undiscovered, meaning its hidden charms remain protected, its treasures left unexposed and still to be revealed – an exciting prospect for visitors looking to discover the real ‘Italia’, as growing numbers of visitors are realising.

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, Founder of property company Appassionata, based in Le Marche, explains that they have also noticed an increased interest in the region in recent years,

“When my family and I took the leap to move to Italy seven years ago, we settled on the Marche region for many reasons and the fact that it is very much undiscovered compared to somewhere like Tuscany was certainly a big draw. Over the last few years we have definitely noticed that more people are looking to this beautiful corner of Italy for an escape from the rat-race, with many interested in having the base of a managed holiday property to return to.

“What I loved about Le Marche back then is what I still love about Le Marche today: its beautiful, untouched countryside, the traditional feel of the ancient hilltop towns, the warm climate, and the fact that it seemed to welcome us with open arms, valuing, as we do, family and a sense of community above all else. Le Marche was then, and remains today, a magical place and one I know that anyone visiting will lose their heart to, it is impossible not to.”

And as Dawn references, although increasingly compared to popular Umbria and Tuscany, Marche has far more untapped potential. Property prices, for example, are dramatically more affordable than in other more well-known tourist regions, with Magic Marche claiming that properties are around 35% cheaper than in Tuscany.

Combine this with the low cost of living of Italy compared to many other top holiday destinations, such as France where groceries are almost 14% more expensive and the Consumer Price Index (a general cost of living indicator taking into consideration consumer goods prices such as restaurants, transportation and utilities) reveals France to be almost 6% more expensive (according to the Numbeo Cost of Living Index 2015 report), it is clear to see why Italy is gaining increasing interest overall and why, in turn, attractive and affordable regions like Le Marche are even more so.

In line with this affordability, the recent devaluation of the Euro against the Pound means that British visitors will get even more for their money when holidaying in Italy this year, with the European Tourism Association revealing that holidays across the Eurozone should be around 18% cheaper for UK travellers due to the 8-year Euro low, indicating that the country is likely to see a boost to their tourism coffers that in 2013 stood at an impressive $44 billion, according to the United Nations Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

With I.Stat showing that tourists from over 50 countries visited Le Marche in 2013, it is clear that it is a region to watch as 2015 continues to evolve, and with an increase in UK arrivals from 2011 to 2013 of 1.5%, it is certain that there is still much further to go for this still somewhat undiscovered region of hidden charms. Jane Smith from Magic Marche concurs,

“Le Marche is Italy all wrapped up in one place… Overall the market in Le Marche has really started to motor again. Every property sector is attracting attention, viewers and buyers – we have not seen such all-round interest since 2008.” It is an exciting time.

One such property that is gaining interest is Casa Tre Archi from Appassionata, a beautiful townhouse in Le Marche’s hilltop town of Petritoli. Built into the medieval town walls, which are beautifully made a feature of as part of the design of the property, Casa Tre Archi also boasts three bedrooms and an expansive roof terrace with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Traditional, yet luxurious, this restored property incorporates wonderful original features whilst providing a comfortable and beautiful setting in which to relax and live the Italian dream. Close to award-winning local restaurants and a short drive from beautiful sandy beaches, and with just five or six non-Italian families living in Petritoli full-time, including Appassionata owners Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs and her husband Michael, this really is a slice of true Italy at its finest.

Casa Tre Archi is offered on a fractional basis, with a share of 1/10^th of the property priced at £65,000, providing five weeks’ exclusive use annually.

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

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, men (and women) across the country will begin to turn their thoughts to all things love – hearts adorn shop windows, with red and pink displays urging lovers inside, cards are signed with question marks adding intrigue to secret flirtations, and the sale of red roses, in exclusive florists to petrol stations, flourish.

But what do you buy the woman or man that has everything? One man thinks he has the perfect solution, as was proved when he bought the ultimate present for his wife: a holiday home in the country synonymous with love – Italy!

James Mason, a commodity trader from London, was at a loss knowing what to buy his wife Jenny, knowing that as a self-proclaimed workaholic, what she would really like, more than anything, would be more quality time with him, something he found difficult in the shadow of the demands of his successful business.  Yet with three young children and a shared love of Italy, James hatched a plan, a plan that would result in him giving his wife the most amazing present she could ever wish for.

Visiting Italy, James met with Dawn and Michael Hobbs, owners of property company, Appassionata, who have themselves made the region of Le Marche home and today specialise in renovating beautiful traditional properties, available for purchase through their fractional scheme. James explains how he instantly fell in love with the property and region, realising it was perfect for his young family, and it was his love for his wife that prompted the next step,

“I thought my wife would love the property and as I didn’t have a present for her I ended up securing the property before she’d seen it. She would be blown away!”

And James wasn’t wrong. Buying as the ultimate surprise through a company called Appassionata, added even more sparkle to James’ purchase, aptly-named for the most romantic of gifts, yet he did not stop there. He also organised for Jenny to make her first ever trip to the property with three of her close girlfriends, where they could enjoy a child-free weekend in their new home.

As they lazed by the pool, walked along the beach and hit the designer outlets, Jenny reflected on her gift, the share certificate wrapped by Dawn in luxurious paper, trimmed with a beautiful ribbon, granting James many brownie points. She could only keep remarking, “I can’t believe James bought this for me, he’s never done anything like this before!”

In awe of her new lifestyle, made possible thanks to her loving husband, Jenny was as keen on the concept of fractional ownership as her husband. Knowing that their ownership gave them five weeks’ usage a year, she realised that this would mean planning when they would use their allowance, ensuring that they prioritised their family-time together and provide a greater balance to their life and work.

Appassionata’s latest project, Casa Tre Archi, is located in the medieval hilltop town of Petritoli in Le Marche. This three-bedroom townhouse is beautifully unique, being built into the town’s ancient walls, part of the entrance turrets, and featuring a turret wall as part of the property’s lounge!

But what makes Casa Tre Archi the perfect destination for romance? Featuring beamed ceilings, cosy décor of delightful, traditional Italian architecture paired with stunning modern additions make Casa Tre Archi the ultimate romantic bolthole. Not only this, but the property also boasts its very own rooftop terrace, perfect for candlelit dinners and long lazy drinks, whilst marvelling in the exquisite views from the house’s hilltop location, twinkling lights below and stars above. Close to excellent local restaurants, Casa Tre Archi provides a taste of the true Italian life, la dolce vita, and the opportunity for the ultimate declaration of love.

So this Valentine’s Day, it is not just in Napoli where ‘the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie’, Petritoli is THE location for ardour, and Casa Tre Archi is the ideal love nest. A thoughtful Valentine’s gift with a difference – That’s Amore!

A 1/10^th share in Casa Tre Archi is priced at £65,000 for five weeks annual usage. For more information visit www.appassionata.com or contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225.