Join Michael for a Day of La Dolce Vita
Follow Appassionata’s co-founder on his perfect day in Le Marche
There’s something about Italy that shifts your whole pace.
You begin to savour your morning coffee a little longer. You appreciate the way daylight dances across stone walls. And you take joy in the quiet simplicity of a well-lived day…
For Michael Hobbs, co-founder of Appassionata, this rhythm of La Dolce Vita has become second nature. Join him for a summer’s day in Le Marche, full of fresh air, good food and the kind of peace that can’t be planned.
I usually wake just before the village stirs. The shutters open to that familiar view across the valley, with early light catching the olive trees and rooftops below. I have always been a morning person but there is something magical about an Italian morning that energises and makes the heart sing!
Breakfast is usually a slow affair, involving a freshly baked pastry and a strong coffee in the piazza at the Tre Archi cafe . I like to sit with the paper or simply enjoy a conversation as friends walk by as the day picks up pace.
A few holes with a view ⛳
The perfect day will involve a few hours on the golf course where playing never feels like a chore, even when it looks like Charlie looks is going to outplay me again.
The drive to my favourite course, Conero Golf in Sirolo is beautiful, winding up the coast between hilltop villages and the sea. The air is warm, the pace relaxed, and the views from the fairways are spectacular.
Coastal lunch and cool white wine 🐟
Once the heat sets in, I head down to one of our family’s favourite spots on the coast: La Baia Beach Club.
Lunch might be seafood antipasti followed by spaghetti alle vongole, always paired with a crisp glass of local white wine, a verdicchio or pecorino normally works . There’s no need to rush. After the meal, I’ll often stay for a digestivo and catch up with friends while listening to the sea rippling onto the beach.
Afternoon visits and countryside stillness 🌿
On the way back inland, I might stop by one of our homes to check on a project or catch up with the team.
Every property we’ve restored tells a story, and even now, I still like to take a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come.
As the sun begins to lower, the village comes alive again. I’ll wander down to the piazza, where neighbours gather and children play. I usually order a campari spritz or a glass of something local, then take a seat and watch the world go by.
Evenings in Petritoli don’t need planning. Someone always stops to say hello, and conversations drift between tables as the sky turns pink. There’s a lightness to these moments that makes the whole day feel complete.
One of my favourite Italian phrases is ‘dolce far niente’ - ‘the sweetness of doing nothing’ which perfectly sums up these moments, it's not a general philosophy of how to live your life but of making the most of those special moments, when you lean back and appreciate life, family, friends and the joy of being in Italy.
