Romance and passion direct from Italy – the perfect Valentine’s Day gift from Appassionata
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