With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, men (and women) across the country will begin to turn their thoughts to all things love – hearts adorn shop windows, with red and pink displays urging lovers inside, cards are signed with question marks adding intrigue to secret flirtations, and the sale of red roses, in exclusive florists to petrol stations, flourish.

But what do you buy the woman or man that has everything? One man thinks he has the perfect solution, as was proved when he bought the ultimate present for his wife: a holiday home in the country synonymous with love – Italy!

James Mason, a commodity trader from London, was at a loss knowing what to buy his wife Jenny, knowing that as a self-proclaimed workaholic, what she would really like, more than anything, would be more quality time with him, something he found difficult in the shadow of the demands of his successful business.  Yet with three young children and a shared love of Italy, James hatched a plan, a plan that would result in him giving his wife the most amazing present she could ever wish for.

Visiting Italy, James met with Dawn and Michael Hobbs, owners of property company, Appassionata, who have themselves made the region of Le Marche home and today specialise in renovating beautiful traditional properties, available for purchase through their fractional scheme. James explains how he instantly fell in love with the property and region, realising it was perfect for his young family, and it was his love for his wife that prompted the next step,

“I thought my wife would love the property and as I didn’t have a present for her I ended up securing the property before she’d seen it. She would be blown away!”

And James wasn’t wrong. Buying as the ultimate surprise through a company called Appassionata, added even more sparkle to James’ purchase, aptly-named for the most romantic of gifts, yet he did not stop there. He also organised for Jenny to make her first ever trip to the property with three of her close girlfriends, where they could enjoy a child-free weekend in their new home.

As they lazed by the pool, walked along the beach and hit the designer outlets, Jenny reflected on her gift, the share certificate wrapped by Dawn in luxurious paper, trimmed with a beautiful ribbon, granting James many brownie points. She could only keep remarking, “I can’t believe James bought this for me, he’s never done anything like this before!”

In awe of her new lifestyle, made possible thanks to her loving husband, Jenny was as keen on the concept of fractional ownership as her husband. Knowing that their ownership gave them five weeks’ usage a year, she realised that this would mean planning when they would use their allowance, ensuring that they prioritised their family-time together and provide a greater balance to their life and work.

Appassionata’s latest project, Casa Tre Archi, is located in the medieval hilltop town of Petritoli in Le Marche. This three-bedroom townhouse is beautifully unique, being built into the town’s ancient walls, part of the entrance turrets, and featuring a turret wall as part of the property’s lounge!

But what makes Casa Tre Archi the perfect destination for romance? Featuring beamed ceilings, cosy décor of delightful, traditional Italian architecture paired with stunning modern additions make Casa Tre Archi the ultimate romantic bolthole. Not only this, but the property also boasts its very own rooftop terrace, perfect for candlelit dinners and long lazy drinks, whilst marvelling in the exquisite views from the house’s hilltop location, twinkling lights below and stars above. Close to excellent local restaurants, Casa Tre Archi provides a taste of the true Italian life, la dolce vita, and the opportunity for the ultimate declaration of love.

So this Valentine’s Day, it is not just in Napoli where ‘the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie’, Petritoli is THE location for ardour, and Casa Tre Archi is the ideal love nest. A thoughtful Valentine’s gift with a difference – That’s Amore!