• Italy home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world
• Positive trend in Italian tourism, especially cities associated with art (ENIT)
• Fractional ownership offers the charm and romance of a historical second home without hidden costs (Appassionata)

Housing the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it would be difficult to find a destination with a richer history than Italy. Boasting an eclectic array of historic and natural beauty, Italy is at the heart of cultural tourism with many ancient attractions dating back thousands of years. With the Colosseum and the city of Pompeii the country's most visited tourist attractions in 2014, it is apparent that Italy's historical magnetism continues to charm persistent crowds from across the globe.

New tourism figures suggest that cities inextricably linked to Italian art are set for an increasing amount of visitors in 2015. This increasing desire to experience Italy's extensive and captivating past is not a new phenomenon, with The Grand Tour becoming a long standing tradition from the mid-17th century right up until the end of the 18th century.

Travelling through Europe, the Tour provided the opportunity for young, upper class Englishmen who wished to learn and thrive in the artistic and historic culture of the mainland, especially Italy. With the explosion of creativity, known as the Renaissance, born in central Italy, evidence of its artistic conceptions can be found throughout the region.

With such a celebrated and distinctive past, it is not surprising that many prospective second homeowners are also looking to Italy for their own glimpse of artistic history. Following the topical movement set by tourists, potential buyers are pursuing more historic properties rich in traditional Italian architecture.

As an interior designer, Dawn explains why these historic qualities are so important to Appassionata,

"When restoring a historic property, it is vital that we create a balance between the traditional features of the building and the more modern touches of contemporary living. Being involved throughout the project from start to finish, we are able to source local, traditional furnishings in keeping with the exterior of the building and the region itself.

"Fractional ownership offers people the opportunity to purchase their own individual piece of Italian history, without the risk of additional restoration expenses or restrictions that many historical properties could incur."

Situated in the heart of Italy's central region, Le Marche is abounding with traces of its exemplary history and illustrious architecture. Perched on a hilltop, in the Fermo province of Le Marche, sits the captivating medieval village of Petritoli. Immediately greeted with a sense of grandeur, the entrance to the village is distinguished by 'Tre Archi' also known as the Three Arches. These magnificent 19th century, neo-gothic arches are built into the walls of Petritoli and create an aura of historical significance on arrival.

Built into these ancient town walls, Appassionata's Casa Tre Archi provides accommodation of three bedrooms and three bathrooms in a luxurious townhouse setting. With beamed ceilings and traditional terracotta-tiled floors, the property is close to a range of local shops and restaurants and has a small garden as well as the roof terrace. The property is offered as part of a fractional ownership scheme whereby a share of 1/10th of the property offers five weeks' exclusive use annually, available from ?70,000.

For more information contact Appassionata on +39 33154 13225 or visit www.appassionata.com