Welcome to our new partner Welcome Beyond!

Welcome Beyond, The Interview...

Please tell us a bit about the restoration of the villa.
Sophie: “We discovered the old farmhouse in 2005, it was the last ruin we visited during our week of house hunting in Le Marche and it was the good one! It took us then 1 year to find the right architects and almost 4 years to complete the renovation which in Italy is always an exciting experience...”

What was your inspiration to rent the villa to guests?
Sophie: “Our project was from the very beginning to share the result of our work. We have rented so many houses in the past for our own holidays and we never found something we completely loved. With this villa, it was our contribution to bring something new or special to the market.”

I love the contrast of the traditional farmhouse and the modern interior. Please tell us a bit about the style of the interior and the architecture.
Sophie: “Well, I like to remember our first brief to our architects. We came with books and catalogues from Christian Liaigre, B&B Italia or Cote Sud... They listened to us very nicely, sometimes saying ‘yes, we understand...’. Then we got the first drawings of the concept which were amazing but rather different. The capacity to reflect our ideas and to surprise us always positively with their creativity is the proof of their great talent!”

Please tell us a bit about the facilities you have at the house.
Sophie: “We tried to put in everything you need to enjoy a dream vacation without getting out of the casa. For the summer, we have an air conditioning system coming from the floor to feel fresh air without freezing. We also have a home theater system, satellite TV, music on the terrace connected to an iPod, a fitness room with Technogym equipment, an outside kitchen with grill and teppanyaki...and very soon a very minimalist pool table made sur mesure for our villa...”

What would you describe to be the essence of the villa?
Sophie: “Our leitmotiv has always been to combine the best of Italy from tradition to modernity. The villa is a mix of all the talents we can find in this gorgeous country.”

To you personally, what is so special about the villa?
Sophie: “Our italian friends in Treia are used to say that the house has the best position in Le Marche, on the top of the hills with a panoramic view from the landscape all the way to the adriatic coast. We spend hours admiring this marchigian landscape from the pool or the terrace!”

The location is just amazing. Please tell me a bit about the Marches. Why is it called the New Tuscany?
Sophie: “Le Marche is maybe one of the most hidden jewels of Italy. Thousands of hills with olive groves, fruit plantations or sunflower fields. Every single village has its tradition coming from a long history, beautiful old churches, museums or theaters. This is the land of Giacomo Leopardi and his beautiful ‘Infinity’. The adriatic sea is very close too, which brings a good balance between earth and water.”

What made you decide to buy a property in Italy and what do you particularly like about this part of Italy?
Sophie: “We had always dreamed about having our own house in Italy one day. We have lived in Modena for 3 years and we also love the Emilia Romagna. Tuscany was also an option but we found it more interesting to discover ‘territory’, the feeling to be in a place which is the Tuscany 30 years ago is just a luxury...”

How would you like your guests to remember their stay at the villa?
Sophie: “We hope people will remember the house for the atmosphere and the surrounding beauty they found there. Le Marche is a hidden secret, and so is our villa.”

Is there something that in your opinion you just have to do or see when visiting Le Marche?
Sophie: “It is difficult to suggest something as everyone has his own aspiration, passion or envy. We would just highly recommend to take the opportunity of a wine tasting ‘a casa’ with Amy and Mirco from ‘Il Casolare dei Segreti’, it’s just a must...”

What are some of the activities on offer in the region around the property?
Sophie: “We have great restaurants around the house like the wonderful ‘Il Casolare dei Segreti’, 2 minutes from the villa, or the great agriturismo ‘Il Maiale Volante’ and its delicious panacotta with vanilla and apricot syrup... From mid-July to mid-August you can enjoy the second most important open-air opera festival in Macerata. You can spend a day on a heavenly beach in Monte Conero with transparent water and eating Italian sushi from Moreno Cedroni, or hiking in the legendary Sibillini mountains. There are plenty of activities, the most difficult is to leave the infinity pool...”

To you personally, what has been the biggest reward about running a villa rental?
Sophie: “We are just very proud to welcome people from all over the planet, German, French, Swiss, English, but also from the United States or Brazil. We are proud and we feel responsible to bring them the best from Le Marche.”

Thank you, Sophie!

For more info
www.welcomebeyond.com