• Expert insight from Appassionata on how to find the perfect fractional ownership property
• Buy a luxury slice of the Italian dream for just £65,000
• Remember the fundamental rule – location, location, location

Fractional ownership is, at its core, a means for individuals to purchase a luxurious item as a group that they would not individually be able to afford. From jet planes to super yachts to high end property, fractional ownership has opened up a world of luxury to those who might otherwise never have known it.

Overseas property, in particular, is ideal for fractional owners looking for a holiday home a cut above the rest. With a management company in place to deal with the maintenance and upkeep of the property, fractional ownership offers the capital growth benefits of a regular holiday home, but with less hassle and a far superior property.

As fractional ownership is still a relatively new concept compared with other methods of property investment, Italy-based fractional expert Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs of luxury holiday home company Appassionata here provides her five golden rules of buying a fractional ownership property.

The five golden rules of buying a fractional ownership property

1. Location, location, location – as with any property purchase, be sure that the location offers everything you desire, whether it’s mountain views, access to stunning beaches, fabulous local cuisine or an easy flight from the UK. If it’s all of the above that you seek, then look no further than Italy’s Le Marche region!
2. Value for money – ensure the purchase price is in line with the local market and offers value for money, with transparent annual maintenance charges. Check out the purchase procedure as well – it should be simple and straightforward, with clarity built in at every stage.
3. Property size – think carefully about how many bedrooms you need and the property’s other rooms and features. Bear in mind that over time your holiday needs may change, with extended family and friends all able to join you if you have a sufficiently spacious property.
4. Residency calendar – be sure to investigate how the property’s residency calendar works. It should be a simple system that is easy to understand, with a means of allocating weeks that is fair to all owners.
5. Confidence – ensure that you have confidence in the company that you are buying from. The fractional ownership company should engender trust from the start. Here at Appassionata our clients get to meet the whole team, which as we are a family business even includes the grandchildren. We like our clients to know that we are nearby should they need us, especially for their first visits when everything is new to them.

Appassionata currently offers three fractional ownership holiday homes – two nestled within the rolling hills of the Le Marche countryside, plus their latest property, Casa Tre Archi, which offers Italian urban living in its purest form, in the medieval town of Petritoli. Dawn was careful to look at all three properties through their potential fractional owners’ eyes before purchasing.

Attached to the ancient turrets and entrance arches of the town walls, Casa Tre Archi offers three bedrooms, three bathrooms and three levels of outside space, including a stunning roof terrace with sea views. Unique features abound, including beamed ceilings, old turret walls and travertine stone floors. Fractions are currently priced from £65,000 each for a one tenth share, which entitles the owner to five weeks’ usage per year.

For more information on fractional ownership and the wonders of the luxury Italian urban lifestyle, contact the Appassionata team on 0039 073 465 8775 or visit www.appassionata.com.

Every 8 minutes a child goes missing in India. These children don’t just disappear into thin air, they become slaves. They work in factories and in brothels, in agriculture and stone quarries, they make bindis and cigarettes, and they number in the millions.

Having a safe home makes a huge difference to the lives of children that have lost their way. With better living standards, children develop the skills they need to heal, empower, educate and eventually reintegrate themselves back into mainstream society.

Indeed, with home very much at the heart of this family-run fractional Italian property business, Appassionata will be joining the Great Big South India Adventure Rally to help provide a roof over vulnerable Indian children’s heads and provide an encouraging and supportive environment to help them grow both physically and mentally.

The quest of the adventure is to raise £25,000 to improve the health and education of school children and those rescued from vulnerable circumstances in addition to inspiring long-term support from rally participants for years to come.

Travelling from Mysore, Karnataka, through Tamil Nadu and into Kerala, the rally will be mixture of long distance riding on Royal Enfield Bullets, exploring each destination and volunteering at the projects being financially supported by Adventure Ashram, a charity that creates purposeful adventures to improve children’s health and education across the World.

Michael Hobbs, owner of Appassionata comments,

“I am a natural born adventurer with a passion for motorbikes, so of course the Great Big South India Adventure appealed to me; I can combine my love for exploration while supporting a great cause, providing a much needed safe place for children. Having completed a similar rally in 2011 I was introduced to the excellent work done by Adventure Ashram and wanted to get more involved. Becoming a corporate sponsor has allowed me to combine a desire to help vulnerable children with my ‘mid-life crisis’ need to live life to the full and push out the boundaries”

“To be given the opportunity to experience first-hand the difference that the money we will raise will make will be truly wonderful. To see the children’s smiles, help at their refuge and hear their stories of how life has improved because of the work of Adventure Ashram. It really puts things into perspective that bricks and mortar can help rehabilitate a young person’s life in the third world. The added benefit of going with four good friends will hopefully enrich our lives and those of the children supported by Adventure Ashram ”

An excellent track record of purposeful adventure by Adventure Ashram in India has led to over £600,000 being granted to 5 different, life-changing charities.

Colin Taylor, Chair of Trustees says

“We know that the charities we work with simply could not have accessed funds from the UK at this stage of their development. We have seen the impact of our grants and our success drives us to continue. Leaving a legacy from our adventures is our goal. With companies such as Appassionata joining our Great Big South India Adventure and helping raise funds that are so urgently needed, together we will adventure boldly with great purpose.”

This is a truly sensational adventure trip that combines a fabulous itinerary with a wonderful and unique blend of adventure travel, volunteering and exploring that exposes the real highlights of south India.

For more information regarding fractional Italian property company Appassionata and their participation in the Great Big South India Adventure call today on 0039 073 465 8775 or visit www.appassionata.com .

NOTES TO EDITORS: About Adventure Ashram

Adventure Ashram is a charity founded and supported by adventurers. Their mission is to help the poorest people on or around the routes our adventure travels through.

Adventure Ashram is currently working in North and South India with health and education projects.

For more information visit their website: http://www.adventureashram.org

The number of Italian beaches to be awarded the prestigious Blue Flag accolade for clean water and pristine sands has increased again this year, according to the international Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

Italy now boasts 269 Blue Flag beaches in a total of 140 municipalities nationwide, compared to the 248 beaches in 135 municipalities recorded last year.

Liguria in northwest Italy retained its title as the region with the cleanest beaches (20) closely followed by Tuscany and the central Marche region (17).

Indeed, Le Marche boasts 180km of Adriatic coastline, lined with a stretch of spectacular Blue Flag beaches however it’s not just beaches that attract the intrepid explorer to this hidden gem of Italy.

The region is also bordered in the west by the Apennine mountain range with ski resorts and hiking trails. Between the Apennines and the Adriatic coast is a glorious hilly landscape with traditional farmland, vineyards, olive groves and sunflowers. Every few kilometres you come across pretty hilltop villages, fields of gold, sparkling rivers and lakes, castles, fortresses and medieval walled towns.

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, owner of family-run fractional property company Appassionata based in Le Marche, comments,

“Italy has so much to offer. My family and I have settled in Le Marche since 2007, nestled between the Sibillini Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, and have never looked back. The landscape of this region is so varied; we have the benefits of world class skiing one day to sun worshipping on gorgeous beaches the next. The beaches near us are incredible – within just 10 km we have Pedaso, Cupra Marittima and Grottamare, all of which are Blue Flag beaches, absolutely perfect for soaking up the Italian sunshine. Here at Appassionata we have built this traditional Italian lifestyle into the design of our properties, enabling our owners to get the most out of their holidays here.”

Dawn continues,

“With a location as truly beautiful as Le Marche, we wanted to ensure that the homes were on par with their environment with traditional architectural features and indulgent décor. We offer people from all over the world the chance to own a luxury property and share in the wonderful lifestyle ventures made possible by the breadth of the estate.”

A one tenth share of Casa Leopardi is currently available for just £195,000. For this, buyers can enjoy exclusive use of the property for five weeks per year, including the estate’s landscaped gardens, swimming pool, all weather tennis court and spectacular panoramic views. Within the house, spacious, light-filled rooms combine with outside terraces and unique touches to create an elegant, relaxed vibe.

The continual rise of Italy as a luxury holiday destination combined with the benefits of fractional ownership make Appassionata’s Casa Leopardi an exceptional lifestyle investment for buyers seeking to indulge their passion for Italy and possess their own slice of ‘La Dolce Vita’. For more information contact Appassionata today on 0039 073 465 8775 or visit www.appassionata.com .

According to a recent report conducted by leading overseas property portal, TheMoveChannel.com, Italian property is now the third most popular in the world, receiving more enquiries than both Spain and Portugal.

Following a slight dip in popularity at the end of 2013, the Italian property market has enjoyed a promising start to the year. The report shows the number of enquiries received for Italian property rose 7% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the previous three months and throughout April 2014 with Italy’s bargainous prices helping the nation become the third most popular destination among house hunters looking for ‘La Dolce Vita’.

• Italian property ranked 3rd most popular (TheMoveChannel.com)
• Food tourism a huge daw with 67.5% of visitors going to restaurants (National Union of Chambers of Commerce)
• Appassionata’s Estate Giacomo Leopardi vineyard produces first vintage
• Last chance to own a fraction at Casa Leopardi and enjoy your own gastronomic produce

Food tourism is a huge draw for visitors to the country and is the first and foremost in expenditure: 67.5% attend restaurants and pizzerias, spending on average €16 per person, and 68.3% are entertained in bars, cafes, and bakeries, consuming about €6 per day. Many buy their food and drinks in supermarkets and shops (60.4% at around €23), while 32% of visitors choose to bring home souvenirs of local food and wine, spending about €10 per head.

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of family-run Italian fractional ownership company Appassionata based in Le Marche comments,

“Indeed, Italy’s racy love affair with foreign property buyers continues despite the tumultuous economic times experienced over the last few years. Buyers are returning in their droves to live la dolce vita and find second homes offering something more than just bricks and mortar.

“In comparison to other traditional European second home destinations Italy offers superb added value. The cuisine and wine alone is a huge draw bringing food tourists and potential property purchasers to Italy to find their perfect pad in gastronomy heaven. Indeed here at Appassionata, we combine the cuisine that Le Marche region is famous for with a luxury holiday home setting which has proved extremely popular with buyers from as far afield as Canada, the USA and South Africa.”

Sympathetically restored from rustic farmhouses by interior designer Dawn and her family, one of the key attractions of Casa Giacomo and Casa Leopardi, located on the delightful 5 acre Estate Giacomo Leopardi, is the share of the produce which includes the a truffle orchard, lavender plantation, olive groves and a vineyard large enough to produce 5,000 bottles of wine per year.

Dawn continues,
“Last week we finished the first wine bottling for Estate Giacomo Leopardi, complete with our own Appassionata designed labels and seals. It was very exciting to see the first bottle coming off the machine, especially as our whole family had planted the baby vines just 4 years ago, 2,500 vines by hand!”

In addition to the Estate’s organic red and white wines, Appassionata has also introduced a new VIP service for fractional share owners, offering a top local chef to make and deliver delicious locally grown, organic dishes to the Appassionata properties.

So for those property hunters looking for a tasty offer why not check out 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom Casa Leopardi . With only one share remaining at £195,000 Casa Leopardi is a must see boasting its own private swimming pool and surrounded by terraces for outdoor dining, the property offers a level of luxury that most holiday home owners can only dream of.

For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775, visit www.appassionata.com like the dedicated Facebook page or follow @appassionata_it on Twitter.

Recently released figures for 2013 have shown that tourism to Italy generated a massive €73 billion during the year. This figure includes some 831 million tourist arrivals, made up of both Italian tourists (60.9%) and foreign visitors (39.1%).

According to a report by the Observatory on Tourism, UNIONCAMERE-ISNART, the average expenditure by tourists also saw positive movement during 2013. For domestic tourists, average spending rose from €67 per day in 2012 to €72 per day in 2013. Foreign tourists were also happier to part with their cash, spending an average of €78 per day in 2013, compared to €69 per day the previous year.

• Italian tourism generated €73 billion in 2013 alone (UNIONCAMERE-ISNART)
• Both domestic and international tourists spent more in 2013 (UNIONCAMERE-ISNART)
• Global tourist flows create Italian property industry stronghold (Appassionata)  

In terms of nationality, the biggest spenders were Russian tourists at €149.48 per capita, followed by Japanese (€122), Spanish (€111.17), British (€105.14), German (€104.42) and American (€102.34).

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of Italian fractional ownership company Appassionata, comments,

“Foreign tourism continues to be an important source of revenue for Italy. In times of economic uncertainty and increased competition, tourist flows from all over the world have helped to bolster the economy and strengthen our property industry.

“The increasingly positive economic news coming out of Italy is encouraging foreign investors to look very closely at the country’s housing market. With the increase of tourism helping to free Italy from recession, many overseas visitors are looking to make their stay more permanent and snap up holiday home bargains before prices begin to rise again.”

Indeed, Italy is attracting visitors from far and wide, especially from Asia, with a fast track being opened for visas for Chinese tourists making it easier to visit this ever popular country. There were 57,000 visa applications to the Consulate-General of Italy in Guangzhou last year, a surge of 20 percent from the previous year, with tourism visa applications making up three-quarters of last year´s total.

The combination of lowered market prices and an increase of foreign tourist spending mean that now really could be the perfect time for buyers to invest in their dream Italian second home, so what are you waiting for?

There are currently many properties at great prices throughout Italy, such as Appassionata’s latest project in Le Marche’s medieval town of Petritoli – Casa Tre Archi. A three bedroom townhouse packed with original features, including castle-like turrets and a gorgeous roof terrace with views across the rolling hills all the way down to the Adriatic coast, the property provides stunning holiday accommodation at a fraction of the usual cost – just £65,000 for a share that entitles owners to five weeks’ usage per year. Within walking distance of fantastic traditional restaurants, bars, shops, and even its own theatre, this location has it all.

For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775, visit www.appassionata.com, like the dedicated Facebook page or follow @appassionata_iton Twitter.

Italy is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for foreign real estate investors thanks to its relaxed lifestyle, climate, history and heritage, according to the latest study released by Savills.

• Foreign investors head to Italy for lifestyle properties whilst domestic market remains subdued (Savills)
• Russian, South African and French among nationalities flocking to buy in Italy (Savills)
• Vineyards become investors’ new ‘must have’ 

Russians and South Africans are amongst Italy’s most prolific international buyers, as are a growing number of French nationals, some of whom are looking to escape the threat of rising taxes back home. Chinese buyers have also flocked to Italy looking for lifestyle properties, moving on from snapping up bottles of fine wines to buying whole vineyards.

Dawn Cavanagh Hobbs, founder of Le Marche based Appassionata, comments,

“Italian properties offer so much more than just bricks and mortar, they offer the chance to step into a dynamic, living painting, to truly experience the Italian way of life. With so many fascinating and beautiful places to visit in Le Marche, even a lifetime simply isn’t enough to see everything that this stunning region has to offer.”

“With international buyers in mind, here at Appassionata we have developed luxury lifestyle properties with all the extras – olive groves, vineyards, a lavender plantation and a truffle orchard from which owners share in the bounty that these produce.

“Keen to make owning a slice of the real Italy as accessible and hassle free as possible, we have adopted the fractional ownership model. Each owner gets to use their chosen home for five weeks of every year while we take care of all aspects of the upkeep, including maintenance of the five acre estate in which the houses sit.”

Indeed, the five bedroom, five bathroom Casa Leopardi has only one share left for sale at just £195,000. With its own private pool and gym, and surrounded by terraces for outdoor dining, the property offers a level of luxury that most holiday home owners can only dream of.

For those who can’t quite stretch to buying their own Italian villa and vineyard, and who don’t fancy becoming slaves to a holiday home that requires maintenance the moment they arrive, Casa Leopardi offers the perfect solution.

The Savills Prime Residential Retreats study released April 2014, states that whilst the domestic Italian market has been subdued due to the Eurozone crisis, there is still a strong demand from international buyers looking for la dolce vita.
For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775, or take a video tour

Italy emerged from its longest recession in 60 years during the final quarter of 2013, when the country’s economy finally stopped contracting. The nation breathed a collective sigh of relief, particularly in light of national statistics agency Istat’s recently released preliminary report that shows growth of 0.1% during the year’s fourth quarter. But what is behind this new-found confidence in the Italian economy and are the positive changes really here to stay?

•  “It is encouraging to see so many factors pointing towards a sustained and viable economic future” (Appassionata)
•  Italy’s trade surplus doubles in year to October 2013 (Istat)
• 10% rebound in property transactions forecast in 2014 (Breglia)

The signs are certainly encouraging. Data from Eurostat has shown that Italy’s public debt has begun to fall, dropping to 132.9% of GDP in the third quarter or 2013 (from 133.3% in the previous quarter), thanks to the country’s implementation of a range of measures designed to improve its fiscal stability. The Bank of Italy is quietly confident, projecting growth of 0.7% in 2014 and 1% in 2015. It is the foundation of an upward curve that Italy is doing everything in its power to achieve.

Italy’s trade and industry figures certainly support the hypothesis that a period of growth is underway. Data from Istat has shown that production levels are rising, with industrial orders in November 2013 up by 2.3% on the previous month.

The agency also reported an encouraging 1.3% rise in exports in 2013; Italy’s trade surplus doubled in the 12 months to October 2013, reaching €2.9 billion according to the Istat data. The rise was largely thanks to increased volumes of exports to the US and China. Italy’s improved competitiveness and reduced production costs have encouraged the increase in exports – an indication that the country’s move towards globalization is beginning to achieve positive results.

At the same time, measures grouped together under the ‘Destination Italy’ package have begun to encourage a rise in foreign investment in Italy. The programme aims to simplify, facilitate and attract business to the beleaguered country and it certainly seems to be working thus far.

Other positive signs for Italy’s economy include the recent data from the Markit/ADACI Purchasing Managers Index, which showed that Italian manufacturing grew in January 2014 for the seventh consecutive month. At the same time, industrial product was shown by Istat to have recorded its first year-on-year increase, with annual output up 1.4% in November 2013.

Consumer confidence has improved correspondingly, rising from 96.40 in December 2013 to 98 in January 2014, another pointer from Istat’s data that Italy’s positive economic progress is more than just a blip.

In line with rising consumer confidence, Italy’s real estate market is also picking up. Investment in commercial real estate reached €4.3 billion in 2013, almost doubling the 2012 figure. Retail and office space were largely behind the increased level of investment, according to realtor Jones Lang LaSalle, indicating that improvements to Italy’s employment rate may be on the way thanks to increased business activity in the professional services and retail sectors.

Residential real estate predictions are also looking up, with real estate expert Breglia forecasting a 10% rebound in property transactions during 2014, after a 30-year low in 2013. This picking up of the market, combined with a 2.5% rise in tourism figures during 2013 (and predicted to grow by a further 3% in 2014, according to domestic forecasting) is expected to lead to considerable interest in the Italian residential property sector from overseas buyers over the year ahead.

Le Marche-based real estate expert Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs of fractional ownership company Appassionata comments,

“Confidence in Italy’s real estate market is really picking up at the moment. There are some fantastic bargains to be had, with luxury properties coming on to the market at incredible prices. Appassionata’s own current renovation project, for example, will provide a standard of luxury that was unimaginable for this kind of price even two years ago.”

Dawn is referring to the family-run company’s latest project in the medieval town of Petritoli – a three bedroom townhouse known as Tre Archi. Packed with original features and in the process of being restored to Appassionata’s exacting standards, the property will provide stunning holiday accommodation at a fraction of the usual cost – just £55,000 for a share that entitles owners to five weeks usage per year (special price for first two shares only). Understandably, Dawn expects interest in the property to be intense,

“Our first two fractional ownership properties generated incredible interest and sold out during the recession, so it’s going to be exciting to see how quickly Tre Archi in Petritoli attracts attention, given Italy’s improving economic position. While it is still early days in terms of Italy’s financial recovery, it is encouraging to see so many factors pointing towards a sustained and viable economic future for this wonderful country.”

For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775 or visit www.appassionata.com.

Italy has long been considered one of the world’s most romantic countries. Indeed, the word ‘romance’ derives from the Latin ‘Romanicus,’ meaning ‘of the Roman style.’ Thus the concept of romance is indelibly linked with all things Italian and Italy regularly features in lists of the world’s most popular honeymoon destinations. The 2014 Virtuoso Luxe Report has already flagged it as the top destination for international travel in 2014, while the National Agency of Tourism reported 62% more sales for Italian tours to visitors from other countries over the 2013 Christmas holiday season.

• Italy flagged as top 2014 international travel destination (Virtuoso)
• Tour sales up by 62% over Christmas holiday season (National Agency of Tourism)
• Italy hailed as the birthplace of modern-day romance (Appassionata)

This passion for Italy was a key factor in the decision made by entrepreneur Michael Hobbs and his interior designer wife, Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, to relocate to Italy in 2007. Since then, the couple and their extended family have restored and managed two incredible fractional ownership holiday homes in the rolling hills of Le Marche. Dawn explains,

“We fell in love with Italy the moment we set foot in the country. Moving here was a pivotal moment in our lives and I love that through our company – Appassionata – we are able to share with others the romance of this region.”

One of Italy’s less discovered and thus more authentic areas, Le Marche offers visitors the delights of both stunning mountain scenery and beautiful, Blue Flag beaches. Romantic cultural activities abound, such as the Macerata open air opera festival every summer, where guests can experience the sounds of some of Italy’s finest operas washing over them while seated beneath the stars.

Appassionata’s fractional ownership properties enable owners to have five weeks’ exclusive use of their chosen property each year, with none of the usual hassles associated with the upkeep of a holiday home. The concept certainly captured the imagination of London-based commodity trader James Mason. After a tour of the local area, he fell in love with Appassionata’s Casa Giacomo, and arranged to secretly buy a fraction of it as a gift for his wife’s birthday.

Other owners have also been inspired by the romance of Le Marche and the essential Italian-ness of town life in the region. Owners Evan and Patti Julber commented,

“Our days were spent exploring nearby cities and towns, walking the cobblestone streets and visiting cosy cafes for cappuccino breaks. We felt immersed during our stay, as opposed to just passing through.”

With only one share left in the original two renovations – in Casa Leopardi, at £195,000 – this idea of true immersion in Italian town life has prompted Appassionata to undertake their next challenge. 2014 will see the family-run company working on two ambitious new restorations in the heart of the medieval town of Petritoli.

Tre Archi, which is due for completion this spring, is a three bedroom, three bathroom townhouse situated so close to the town’s ancient walls that the turret wall actually forms part of the living room. The property benefits from three levels of outside space, which is most unusual for an urban Italian property of this nature. The generously sized roof terrace is perfect for those wishing to enjoy a romantic, candlelit dinner as dusk descends. The first two fractions will be sold for £55,000 each.

The more substantial restoration project of the five bedroom Palazzo Scarsini, which comes with delightful period features such as an upstairs salon and fresco ceiling, will take around a year to complete. Initial fractions will be available for £100,000.

For those who want to enjoy all the romance and passion of Italy but can’t quite stretch to fractional ownership, the ever-dynamic Appassionata team have also created another wonderful brand, selling exquisite designer handbags through Appassionata Boutique. The bags, which are individually designed and handmade by a local artisan in partnership with Appassionata’s Dawn, make the perfect Valentine’s gift for those looking to bring a special taste of Italy to their loved one.

So whether it’s houses or handbags this Valentine’s Day, Italy – and Appassionata – has something for everyone.

For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775 or visit www.appassionata.com

2014 will see the world celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the International Year of the Family. It is a time for reflection and refocusing on the importance of family and for understanding how families have developed since the original Year of the Family in 1994.

• 2014 sees 20^th anniversary celebrations of International Year of the Family (UN)
• Italy chosen as one of best family travel destinations for 2014 (Lonely Planet)

With this focus very much in mind, Lonely Planet has recently published its list of the best family travel destinations of 2014, while the Sunday Times has flagged up the most popular countries in which to buy a holiday home. Both lists point to Italy as a destination of choice during 2014, so what is it about the boot-shaped country that so captures the hearts and minds of those who visit it?

For Brits, of course, the weather is an important factor and Italy in this respect offers the best of both worlds, with baking sunshine in the summer and fabulous skiing and snowboarding conditions in the winter. Family holidays can therefore be focused around beach time during the hotter months and around adventure activities in the mountains as the nights begin to draw in.

Food, too, is a huge plus point for Italy in terms of its position as one of the world’s top holiday destinations. Pizza and pasta, along with some of the best ice cream on the planet, are always popular choices with younger family members, as well as with older ones. And in a culture where children are welcomed in restaurants and stay up late as the norm, dining out can be a truly stress-less family occurrence.

For businesswoman Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs and her family, Italy’s charms were sufficient to draw them to the country on a more permanent basis. Since moving there in 2007, Dawn and family have set up fractional ownership company Appassionata. Three generations of the family are involved in running the business, though as grandson Lucas is only five his role is currently restricted to directing the other family members during the annual olive harvest at the estate of one of Appassionata’s luxury holiday homes, Casa Leopardi.

Dawn has found that the owners of Appassionata’s properties have found the family element to be key in their decision to purchase through her company. She explains,

“Italians love family and personal service, and that’s very much what we are about at Appassionata. Many of our owners have commented on how nice it is to deal with a real, human company rather than a faceless corporation. They like the personalised approach that our family takes to the business and find it comforting that we are just ten minutes away while they are staying in Italy, so that we are on hand should they need anything.”

Dawn has also discovered just how popular her first two properties, which she and husband Michael restored from tumbledown farm buildings, have been with their owners’ children. Set in an idyllic five acre estate in the rolling countryside of Le Marche, the grounds offer the space for the children to run and play as much as they wish, as well as to involve themselves in the grape, olive and lavender harvesting, should they so desire.

Now with two new properties under development, the Appassionata team is looking to focus on other aspects of family life for their prospective owners. Both of the new properties – the three bedroom townhouse Tre Archi and the five bedroom Palazzo Scarsini – are conveniently located in the delightful medieval town of Petritoli. Surrounded by shops, restaurants and cafes, they offer the ultimate convenience for families with children of all ages. From strolls through the piazzas to dining in the evening sunshine on one of the properties’ spectacular terraces, owners can immerse themselves in traditional Italian town life, while still being just 20 minutes from a blue flag beach and 45 minutes from the Sibillini Mountains.

“There’s a lot of positivity in Italy about the housing market beginning to recover this year. At Appassionata, we have just one fraction of Casa Leopardi left for sale (at £195,000), while considerable interest in Tre Archi (£55,000 per fraction) and Palazzo Scarsini (£100,000 per fraction) has already been generated, in advance of restoration works being completed in the spring and summer respectively. All signs point to 2014 being a turning point for Italy’s housing market.”

For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775 or visit www.appassionata.com.