Marche information site

Searching for an area to live in Italy can be a daunting task as there are so many beautiful places in this country and each new town you visit can be as enticing as the last. When making difficult decisions like this it is always helpful to have useful information and not to be influenced solely by a visual experience. When you are looking for details on the Marche Region a very useful source on the internet is the web-site Marche Voyager. This English language site was conceived and is operated by Peter Greene, a travel writer, with assistance from the Marche Region Tourism Department. This site is very user friendly and provides a wealth of information on the history, culture, tour itinerates, cuisine and is useful for both the casual visitor and the serious home buyer in Marche.

What Italy Property Preview can do for you

Sample Inspection

To provide an idea of the type of information that an Italy Property Preview inspection provides, the following is based on a property in the southwestern part of Marche. This preview with a sampling of photos shows that the focus is not only on the housing structure but also the outbuildings, land, and the services available in the area. In addition to this type of report additional photos are provided to clients.

Property location:
Regione: Marche Provincia: Ascoli Piceno Citta: Montedinove
Directions: On the outskirts of Montedinove, northwest of town.

Access to property: Paved state road runs about 6 feet (2 meters) in front of property. No gates to property. This property is in walking distance to the small picturesque town of Montedinove with less than 1000 inhabitants.

Type of construction: The currently uninhabitable structure consists of 2 main floors plus an attic and cantina, and comprises approximately 200mq or 2160sf. Access is on south side of house with a narrow interior stair case. Per owner, house was built in phases and is at least 100 years old; his father was born there, but he was not sure of exact age. There is a flat patio area on south side with a forno (outdoor oven) and holding pens that were used for rabbits and pigs.
Roof type (tetto): Terra cotta tiles, roof is intact though it would require some maintenance.
Gutters (grondaie): Some are still present but would require repairs and additional gutters need to be added.
Doors/windows (porta/finestra): Originals were wood but all windows would require replacement as none are fully functional, many are missing. Doors would require replacement for security reasons. No shutters present.
Stone/brick/stucco (petra/mattone): House is made of brick with concrete-based stucco exterior and plaster interior coatings. No additional insulation present.
Repairs (rifacimento): Structure is sound but would require renovation to make habitable. Owner advised that a geometra, who is a friend of his, has inspected the property.
Condition and relative to surrounding properties: Structure in need of extensive renovation but no obvious structural defects such as bowed walls, sagging roof, misaligned openings or sagging floors. This property is similar in materials and style to others in the area. It is recommended that a geometra be hired for renovation cost estimates before any purchase offers are tendered.

Land around property:
Parking: There is a grassy drive entering the property below the street level with a bricked cave that can be used as a garage, which currently has no doors.
Drainage (fognatura): Property is approximately 2 ettari (hectares, or 5 acres) on a slope, and part of which is currently cultivated in grain. There are currently no olive or fruit trees or vines on the property. The property slopes away from the house at approximately 45 degrees with some trees and a good vista looking west towards the Apennine Mountains.

Nuisance issues: Property is located adjacent to paved road that connects several towns in the area. Located halfway between Montedinove and Rotella is a large dairy facility, though this sits on the other side of the hill which Montedinove sits upon and is not visible from the property. Possible road noise is the main nuisance issue.

Convenience items: Montedinove which is surrounded by medieval walls at an elevation of 560 meters / 1840 feet offers full services with grocery, bars, pharmacy, churches, doctors, hotel and other shops. It is in close proximity to Rotella and Montalto delle Marche which have additional services and a short distance from road SS433 providing access to the Adriatic and the A14 motorway.

Interior: Floors: Two levels with attic and cantina.
Walls (muro):Plaster over brick.
Fixtures: None present.
Furnishings/appliances/cabinets: None present other than built-in stone counter in kitchen.
Storage: There is a cantina below house carved out of the earth (bedrock layer), originally utilized for wine storage. There is also another cave area along driveway that could be utilized as garage space. An additional included cantina is located across the street, that the owner said had been used as a horse stable.
Heat/cool/fireplaces: No centralized heating system, uses fireplaces. There is electric service connected as well as water but no gas lines. Satellite or telephone would have to be connected.

Photos available: Front, rear, sides, view towards Montedinove and countryside, inside of ground floor, outbuildings, etc:

Notes: The owner of this property stopped by as I was inspecting the property; he lives within sight distance of the house. He is an older gentleman who was very pleasant and open to answering questions.

Fortezze e Castelli

In the area along the border of Abruzzo and Le Marche there are numerous well-preserved medieval fortezze, which sit high on ridges above the surrounding country. One is at Acquaviva Picena offering beautiful vistas of the Adriatic coast. The star shaped fortezza is perched above town, complete with ramparts and towers that you can access for impressive views of the town it once protected. The centro storico is also surrounded by le mure, or walls.

Another fortezza is found in Civitella del Tronto, just south over the Abruzzo border with Marche. Dating from the late 1500’s, it marked the northern boundary of the Kingdom of Naples, and later of the Papal States. It is best known as one of the last hold-outs against the Italian unification forces in 1861. This impressive structure spreads across 1500 feet along a ridge jutting out over the surrounding valleys.

Along the ancient Via Salaria west of Ascoli Piceno you will pass two castelli which also had defensive uses. The first is Castello di Luco, which is mostly hidden from view along the highway but is located just outside of Pagese. This circular castle rests on a mass of rock and, though not normally open for visitors, is worth a visit to view this unique structure and its adjoining borgo. A restaurant in the castle and lodgings in the borgo are offered seasonally.

Further down Via Salaria just before leaving Marche you can not miss Arquata del Tronto which sits above the Fiume Tronto and the prominent Rocca di Arquata looming over the centro storico. This fortezza is open with limited hours but a visit at any time is worthwhile for the views of the nearby Monti Sibillini to the north and Gran Sasso to the south.

Whether you are looking for your own fortezza, castello, rustico or an apartamento in a centro storico, Italy Property Preview can provide the information you need to make an informed decision in your real estate purchase with our comprehensive inspections.

Loreto

Loreto

Loreto is located just south of Ancona off the A14 autostrada and has a large basilica that is visible for many kilometers. Tradition tells the story that in the thirteenth century angels transported Mary’s stone house from the Holy Land to this hilltop overlooking the Adriatic Sea. I have read that the building materials and building style used in this small stone house match those of the area around Nazareth, however the timing of this house appearing in Loreto also corresponds to a period when many of the early Crusaders where returning to Europe, mainly to this part of the Adriatic.

Nonetheless, the Basilica surrounding Santa Casa is very ornate and on the inside the house has been encased in elegantly carved marble. The adjoining Palazzo Apostolico houses artifacts donated to this Basilica while the fronting Piazza Santuario and neighboring streets hold various shops and booths selling religious articles to the many pilgrims that come to this town every year.

Loreto is definitely a pilgrimage town and has the tourist shops, hotels and restaurants to support the throngs of faithful. That said it is also a livable town with services both in and in close proximity to the centro and is a very clean and charming citta. The panoramas of the surrounding countryside are a definite plus to this hilltop town.

Italy Property Preview is available for inspecting property for you in this area to give you a hands-on summary view of the amenities available. Please visit our home page for more information.