Marche villa holiday Italy, villa rental Marche Italy, Marche holiday villa, Marche vacation home Italy, pool, views, mountains, gastronomy, culture

Villa Il Melo (the Apple Tree) is a large stone and brick farmhouse set in wooded grounds filled with walnut, fig, olive and apple trees; its grounds run down to the river Tenna in Le Marche, Italy. There are views to the hill towns of Monte San Martino, Penna San Giovanni and Falerone as well as, across the neighbouring cherry orchard, to the Sibillini Mountains National Park. Built in the late 1800's by the Mancini family, the house was owned by them until 2008. The restoration has been carried out by local craftsmen to the highest standards to create an ideal rural retreat yet with easy access to nearby towns, mountains and beaches. With a 12 metre pool, 5 en suite bedrooms, living and dining room, sitting room and library as well as fully equipped kitchen and full underfloor heating, Il Melo provides a tranquil holiday base for exploring the 'golden triangle' of the southern Marche. It is ideal whether you want summer sun or winter snow. (Adriatic beaches and ski slopes are both a 45 minute drive away).

Nestled in a valley on the edge of the Monti Sibillini National Park, Il Melo is in the commune of Monte San Martino. Nearby are many fine restaurants serving fresh local produce and there are lively markets in Amandola, Sarnano and Comunanza. Every town also has festas celebrating their local speciality. Monte San Martino is famous for its art gallery and beautiful churches with stunning paintings by the Crivelli brothers. Macerata, the provincial capital, has one of the largest open air opera houses in Europe. Ascoli Piceno is a must if only to sip a coffee in the Piazza del Popolo. The Marche is like Tuscany and Umbria were before the crowds came and offers wonderful opportunities for walking, horse riding and cycling or just chilling and getting the feel of the real Italy. A few miles away is Italy's principal shoe and leather-goods making area with numerous outlets such as Tods, Prada and Geox. The Adriatic coast has a wide range of resorts and wonderful seafood.

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