Love Letters from Le Marche

Real moments, real people, and real life in Le Marche

There’s something about Le Marche that’s hard to explain until you’ve experienced it for yourself… But we’ll do our best to give you an idea.

Rolling hills seem to stretch endlessly, hilltop villages are full of character, and long lunches between friends gradually slip into evening drinks without anyone noticing the time.

Life here isn’t rushed. It’s shaped by simple pleasures, fresh food, strong community and traditions that have been passed down for generations.

It’s not just somewhere you visit. It’s somewhere you begin to feel part of.

Choosing La Dolce Vita

Over 20 years ago, our family made the decision to leave the UK and build a life here in Le Marche. It was a leap into the unknown, but one we’ve never looked back on.

Reflecting on the current state of the world and how it feels to live in Italy, Michael said: 

“It has made me reflect on how lucky my family and I are to be spending time in Italy, especially in our medieval village in Le Marche, where the world is carrying on at its normal pace, while the locals go about their everyday business, preparing for the spring and summer months, looking forward to a peaceful and safe time ahead. 

We may be fortunate to be cocooned in a ‘micro bubble of normality’, but that’s what I love about Italy and Le Marche… It's a simple life, with a wonderful community that supports each other and goes about life with an open heart and desire to live their best lives.”

A family business, built on life in Le Marche

Today, Appassionata is truly a family business, shaped by the people who live and breathe it every day. 

My daughter India and her husband Charlie are not only an integral part of the team, but are now also proud stakeholders in the business too, having built their own lives here in Le Marche.

Remembering their decision to move, India said:

“We packed up our belongings and moved to Petritoli in August 2008. 19 years since we arrived, and so much has happened, but we don’t have any regrets at all. 

We have two beautiful children, both of whom were born here. Lucas will be 18 this year, and Millie-Mary will be 13. They’re both bilingual, and in all honesty, are more Italian than British at this point, which is fantastic.”

Charlie shares a similar perspective on what that decision meant:

“We always dreamt of a perfect lifestyle, but it wasn’t possible until we moved to Le Marche in Italy.

Everyone says we’re lucky to live where we do, and yes, we are, but it’s also a choice. So when we made a choice to move to Le Marche, our luck became reality.”

A dream shared

What started as a personal decision quickly became something much bigger, and that was Appassionata.

We had created a way of living that felt too special not to share, and over the last 17 years, we have developed six homes across Le Marche and welcomed over 70 owners into our community.

Each one drawn here by the same feeling we had all those years ago. Hear about the stories of some of those homeowners below.

Stories from our owners

For the Harrington family, owning a home in Italy had always felt like a dream that might never quite become reality. Living in the US, the distance, language and logistics made it feel out of reach, until they discovered a different way of doing things.

“The idea of buying part of a beautifully furnished and managed home and using 5 weeks a year was very appealing.

Michael and his team made the process so incredibly easy. We visited

properties, asked questions, and decided to move forward with the purchase. Michael was calm, efficient and fun throughout the whole experience.

We had spent 6 summers on the Tuscan coast and at first were always comparing the two locations. Now, we only talk of Le Marche, how incredible it is, how much more we have to explore.”

For Ian and Carol Gray, owners of Il Riposo and later Villa Veneto, what started as a simple idea after “cluelessly musing about owning a property in Europe” quickly turned into something much more meaningful.

“On our first stay as owners, we were tourists; on every subsequent trip, we have been welcomed as neighbours. 

We go to Italy to live there each year. When we want to become tourists, we venture farther out in any direction. If friends join us, we try not to be too overbearing with our pride and appreciation for Marche.

We have learned how to enjoy each season, what to avoid in peak season, where to park, what to pack, which beaches to target, how to appreciate people and time in our own Italian nest.”

For Tim and Judith Scull, owners at Il Riposo, the idea of owning a home in Italy had always been there, but the reality of doing it alone didn’t quite feel right.

“We were considering buying an entire property in Italy, and sought the advice of a Glaswegian Italian friend. 

He dissuaded us from this course of action, primarily because he felt we would not use it for more than 6 weeks a year and importantly, as we were not Italian or able to speak the language, we were likely to struggle with the purchase process.”

We took his advice, but then Appassionata presented itself. We liked the feel of the information on the website, and the family nature of the business appealed and shone through. The price point was good, and the annual calendar management seemed optimal.

So, was it a good choice? I think that we can say it is one of the best choices we have ever made.”

Start your own Italian love story

Through fractional ownership, Appassionata offers a simple, structured way to make your dream of living La Dolce Vita a reality. With us, you get the chance to own a home in Italy, without the complexity of managing it alone, and the freedom to return year after year.

With 6 available homes across our portfolio, including new opportunities and resale shares, your place in Le Marche could be closer than you think.

Get in touch to book your 2026 Discovery Visit.