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Marche definitely.

Hello Lotaresco,

thank you for your quick reply. Can I ask you the reason why you say Marche? Do you live out there, or are you thinking of moving there. I would appreciate any advice about the Region thanks.

I think our next step is to start taking vacations out there and to stay at different times of the year, so we can get an idea of how the seasons vary.

We are only in the very early stages of planning, so have plenty to think about.

Look forward to any replies.

Francesca

[QUOTE=adriatica]francesca

you might well have noted lotaresco propensity for sarcasm ... his abode in abruzzo... and his running battles with various memebers of the site that happen to appreciate the marche... and his hate of british neighbours
[/QUOTE]

Do you think you could grow up for a moment and drop the unwarranted personal attacks?

[QUOTE=Francesca]
thank you for your quick reply. Can I ask you the reason why you say Marche? Do you live out there, or are you thinking of moving there. I would appreciate any advice about the Region thanks.
[/QUOTE]

I live just across the border from Marche and I love the region. Which region floats your boat will depend very much on you and your personal preferences. However the region that appears to have most instant "wow" appeal to British visitors is Marche. The people are pleasant, British families have already blazed the trail and the area away from the coast offers a wonderful environment around the year, it remains green long into the summer and stays relatively cool (springlike) much more of the year than regions to the south.

A slight negative with Marche is that routes towards Rome are more difficult than from Abruzzo which has two motorways crossing the Apennines (both joining at L'Aquila). But the A14 offers good fast transport to Bologna and to the north but not on easter holidays (nothing moves).

If you want pretty pretty, there are few places nicer than San Ginesio, if you want something slightly grander/more urban then Ascoli Piceno is worth a look, and if you're adventurous take the SS4 up to Capodacqua and on to Norcia (in Umbria).

I don't know northern Marche well, but I do like the look of the area when I drive through to Bologna, and intend to stop and explore someday.

Ultimately you'll make your own mind up, what suits me could well be anathema to you. I like being a hill farmer and I'm integrated into my village which is (according to most of the locals) full up with British, because they have one family already - mine :).

Marche is more cosmopolitan than the extremely rural and isolated areas of Abruzzo. I don't think anyone would ever fall in love with Pescara or indeed much of the coast in Abruzzo (too much like the Spanish Costas). Also many of the river valleys in both Marche and Abruzzo runnign towards the Adriatic are not that pleasant. They can be hot, dry, dusty places in summer and also flood, sometimes with liquid mud, during spring and autumn. Be very suspicious of watermills, buildings by small streams and any address with "fosso" in the name, they will all most likely have a flood risk.

I'd ignore John (adriatica) I think he's been on grumpy pills today.

Hello John,

first off I am going to ignore any trivial disputes that may occur on this site, that is not what I have joined for!

It seems to me that Abruzzo is becoming the more popular choice. I know that the National Parks sound really great, but I will have to be more practical. The reason being that I do not drive, although my partner does. Saying this, I will need to rely on any form of public transport that is available, so I do not want to land up somewhere off the beaten track.Can you give me any suggestions? Also, we do not want to be more than 1 hours drive from a main airport, if that is possible? Am I asking/expecting too much? I hope that this will narrow down the area considerably.

I think my next step is to take any holidays I have to the region that I would like to retire to and spend some time looking around and getting aquainted with the area. Also, I am told to go at different times of the year to appreciate the seasons. Well my next available week would be July, but I do not intend to travel then as it will be too hot, full of kids and too expensive! Therefore September is the month we intend to come out to Italy again.

To be honest, I joined this forum and found the info available invaluble and can't wait to log on at every oportunity. Yes, there are a few members who think they are the total knowlege and like to express [B]their [/B] opinions and I tend to stick to private messages only. My advice is take twelve months, travel, book cheap flights to difrerent regions. We fly out to Bari in two weeks for £35.00 return from Stansted to Bari which is quite expensive and fell in love with Ostuni area. No English, No tourist, No Pubs, No yobs, Bliss.... but everybody has their own preference and idealistice way of ending their days. Travel, see what other regions have to offer and make YOUR own mind up. [B]You[/B] have to live there at the end of the day.

Hello Neal,

thanks for your reply and useful tips. It sounds wonderful to do what you suggest. It would be easier for me rather than my partner, but yes that is probably the best way to go.

I envy you going away in a few week's time, wish it was me. Have a great time and please let me know how you get on. ( How long are you going for? )

Kind regards

Francesca

Hi Francesca,
We have lived here in Le Marche for 12 months now.
We spent holidays over the previous 10years or so, visiting different areas
of Italy to see which area we thought we could settle in. We found that after visiting
other places we would always spend a few days in this area.
We are 1 hour from both Ancona and Pescara airports and 10 minutes drive from
the coast. We love it. If you are visiting this area get in touch and we will give you any help we can.

Hello Fred and Kath,

thank you for your interesting reply. I am becoming overwhelmed by the friendly replies from such lovely people on this site. Where you live does sound very much around the area of Marche that we would be interested in. ( About 1 hours drive from a major airport and fairly near to civilization, as I do not drive but my partner does. ) This is important for me, to look forward to the time when perhaps we may have to rely on public transport. Also, for people to be able to visit us and not have to face too long a drive from the airport.

Well hopefully, our next visit to Italy will be in September, so may take you up on the offer of help, such as where to stay for an affordable price.

If you have any other tips or pros/cons , (there must be some ) they would be very much appreciated.

Kind regards
Francesca

Hi Francesca,
About 14 months ago my wife and I moved to a small village in Abruzzo called Torre dei Nolfi. One of the things I wanted to say is that we have an excellent bus service from the outlying villages to our principle town called Sulmona - the birth place of the poet Ovid. I think there are four or five buses a day. Other than that from Sulmona there you can catch a train to Rome for about £12 return. From the same station you can easily travel north to Aquilla, south to Napoli or East to the coast and Pescara.

I spent two months at a language school in Le Marche and ended up coming down to Abruzzo primarily because I couldn't afford the prices. However, on arriving in this area, I rather fell for the scenery - beautiful mountains.

If ever your passing this way say Ciao.. :)

We are doing the exact same thing. We have a plan to relocate hopefully early in 2007 and until then we are carrying out as much research as possible. This forum has made it a lot easier for gathering info.

We have just returned from holiday in Italy and plan to go for a month next year to decide the preferred areas for us. We then plan to rent for at least 6 months in 2007 and if it is what we expected, to sell up and live permanently. Work is a potential sticking problem though, but not to hamper us too much though.

We are looking at Marche but would not rule out north Abruzzo.

Keep us posted.

Jan

[QUOTE=Francesca]Hello, my name is Frances, but I like to be known as Francesca. I am new to this site and have many questions I would like to ask about Italy.
But the most important question is that I and my partner are hoping to retire soon, and have been looking at the Regions of Abruzzo and Marche in a guide called "Buying Property In Italy" to settle down in. I would dearly appreciate some advice as to which of the two Regions would be most suitable?
Is there any other member on this site who has taken the plunge and moved to either of these Regions, or is in the midst of a move?
Kind regards
Francesca.[/QUOTE]
Dear Francesca,i did not bother to read all the replies to your question,neither would i have the presumption to tell you where i live,or why i chose one of these regions as home (over 10 years ago), neither would i try to "sell" you this place.Quite frankly i find it an extraodinary way of approaching a life choice!.Firstly ,always presuming that one of these is the region you have designated to retire to, i would suggest that you take not one but several extended holidays in these regions.No one can tell you what your aspirations are or what you desire from a locality you must decide for yourself!.You can effect a lot of valuable research without moving from your computer you can obtain important information on climate ie. average rainfall/temperatures/topography/major towns/population/econonomy/average incomes/services/culture/production without bothering with "books",etc etc.To be honest, and despite all the positive aspects of both these regions one can say that their topographical aspects do not lend themselves to the elderly or those with ambulatory problems with the exception of the coastal plains.The rigidity of the climate in both regions in the inland areas could prove to be testing ( we saw two years ago a " thermal excursion" over 12 months of around 50 degrees ie. between minimum and maximum temperatures registered this could be difficult in a few years time.Everything is possible nothing is possible but please do not pay too much attention to people who for reasons unknown seem to feel the need to sell their location to someone else.....good luck.if you would like to comunicate privately there are no problems i would reply.

Hi Francesca…

Welcome to Forum. Don’t mind the banter from Steve and John. You will soon discover that we do like to have a lively debate every now and then. It makes Forum that more spicey.

I spent nearly four years in Tuscany and when I came to the Marche I was really impressed. The Marche has many rural areas and this is why it has sustained many of its traditional values across the centuries. The Marche also has a rich and fascinating history, being once part of the Papal States (not forgetting its history during the 10th and 9th century BC).

Some of the region’s distinctiveness has been lost (some of the industrialised valleys) but I suppose this is due to the effects of economic growth of 1960’s and 1980’s. To get a real taste of the unspoilt heartland you have to go inland. The coastal areas are far too commercialised (although the Riviera del Conero is wonderful).

Most of the landscape around central and southern Marche is inspiring, given its backdrop of rolling hills and Sibillini Mountains.

Tucked away in the northern corner of the Marche is the Montefeltro. In many ways it is unexpectedly different from other parts of the region. It is a wilder, yet beautiful country, and noted for its picturesque towns and villages, green pastures, dense forests of Monte Carpegna, rare flora, formaggio di fossa (a cheese that is matured in pits), Visner (a liqueur made from cherries), chestnuts, pane di Chiaserna (a local bread that is sought after by northern ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs), prosciutto di Carpegna, truffles, numerous castles and medieval fortifications. It also includes the Riserva del Furlo and Parco Naturale del Sasso Simone e Simoncello (Simon and little Simon), one of the most beautiful and yet undiscovered parts of northern Marche.

I don’t think you will be disappointed. Then again, you won't be too disappointed with most parts of central Italy.