But many are put off by the crowds that throng the tourist haunts and high prices of such places as Tuscany and Umbria. If this is you, don't despair. Italy's best-kept secret of Le Marche awaits.



Located in central Italy near Tuscany and Umbria, the Marches (pronounced Lay Markay and locally spelled Le Marche) is a verdant region that slopes down from central Italy to the lovely beaches and harbours on the Adriatic. It's a ruggedly beautiful region with its waterfalls, oak trees, olive groves and vineyards. It also offers towns and cities full of splendours with palazzos, monasteries, abbeys and renaissance churches.

Le Marche's cultural charms can rival those of any in Italy. You can visit Urbino, birthplace of the painter Raphael, Pesaro where operatic composer Rossini was born, and admire countless treasures of the renaissance. And unlike overcrowded Florence, you'll be free of jostling crowds and tourist prices.

To visit Le Marche is to fall under its spell. And if you then decide to acquire your dream home there, you have a wide range of choices.

How about a grand villa with swimming pool? Drenched in history and refurbished for the complete modern lifestyle, such a property is available for just 1250000 Euros.

Set on 2 hectares of land and located just 3 kilometres from the beach, the villa features extensive gardens graced with Mediterranean pines, oaks, oleanders, lavenders, and roses.

The villa has space to spare. It boasts 3 large living rooms, 5 bedrooms all with bathrooms, and a spacious kitchen with open fire. There's also a playroom for children. Such a property is truly baronial but you'll find many other delightful houses at prices that everyone can afford.

Take for example, C? Lucilla, a rural house set in a delightful country village yet close to a historic town. The house measures 120 by 140 metres and is set an enclosed garden of 1000 square metres. This offers all the privacy you could need. This property needs restoration work but is a steal at 46500 Euros.

Buying or renting such a property offers you a taste of the traditional Italian lifestyle but with all the essential comforts of modern life. So how do you go about acquiring your dream property?

For a hassle-free procedure, you'll need to contact a local firm that specializes in the sale and rent of properties in the area. The firm should have both the technical expertise to survey and evaluate property along with an intimate knowledge of the legal and administrative procedures that are part of the bureaucratic process that accompanies any rent, lease or sale of property.

But before contacting such a firm, you'll have to decide some matters yourself. For example, you have to set your budget and have a clear idea of the type of home you want. Spend some time traveling around the region and get a feel for what kind of houses are available. It's a large area so this will take some time.

Remember, when you acquire a house in the Marches, you're getting more than just a roof over your head; you're becoming part of the whole tradition and lifestyle of this delightful Italian region.