Urbania (Marche)

Italy Magazine quizzed Michael Hobbs of Appassionata, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, about when fractional ownership is a sensible decision for you, what trends and changes he’s seeing in people’s Italian homebuying habits and how it all works for those on a tourist visa.

It's prime truffle time in much of the Boot. Bianchetti truffles are king in March, though the month also brings the tail end of winter black truffle season.

Buying a derelict palazzo and breathing life back into it is an Italian dream many people share. But what happens when you’ve finished the extensive renovation?

Gary, from the UK, and Davide, from Puglia, took the plunge to Le Marche and never looked back. Now they run a business specialized in helping others renovate homes in this underrated region.