There is a region in Italy that is still yet to be discovered. Sister to Tuscany and Umbria in character, yet less polished, with one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Italy. Le Marche is one of the most varied regions in the country; its geography alone is remarkable: the dramatic peaks of the Monti Sibillini to the west, the white pebble coves and limestone cliffs of the Riviera del Conero along the Adriatic coast, and between them, a countryside of sinuous hills, sunflower fields and medieval hilltop villages that feel entirely untouched by the kind of tourism that has transformed so much of central Italy. Franciscan convents, ancient fortresses, the Renaissance perfection of Urbino, the handmade pasta of Ascoli Piceno are just a handful of the many things to discover in this slow-paced corner.

Amidst all of this beauty, we have discovered an estate in Civitanova Marche that is a perfect base to explore: the Adriatic coast is on the doorstep, as is the Sanctuary of Loreto, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Italy, just 20 kilometres to the south. Recanati, the birthplace of poet Giacomo Leopardi, is a short drive away while the Monti Sibillini national park and a number of medieval hilltop towns worth the visit are all reachable within an hour. We’re talking about Oliveto Estate, a family-led property sleeping up to 22 people that combines two independent villas across 9 hectares of olive groves, woodland and open countryside. Founded by Amanda Jennings, the estate carries a quietly distinctive philosophy rooted in the family’s history: Amanda’s grandmother, an early practitioner of yoga, passed down a spiritual approach to wellness that now forms the core of Oliveto’s hospitality (hence why yoga retreats are extremely popular here).

It’s impossible to not unwind here, and granted that there’s a lot to explore around the property, it’s difficult to actually leave as there are plenty of activities and experiences you can do in-house. But before we dive into the many things you can do, let’s set the scene. With the sun rising in front, you draw your bedroom curtains to one of the most postcard worthy views, with olive grove-covered fields that spill towards the Adriatic. You’re off the main road so there is no noise besides the early morning birds. Now we’re not sure about you, but one of the things we truly love is to see a perfectly up-kept garden, and this one at Villa Olivo is seamless; A British style grass garden with immaculately trimmed hedges and shrubs, worthy of surrounding the oh-so-very sleek swimming pool below. In the corner there’s also a little fire-pit, for evening aperitivi and an outdoor kitchen with pizza oven for communal alfresco dinners on the warmer nights.

Villa Olivo is the larger of the two, with seven bedrooms spread across three floors and a design that makes the surrounding landscape feel like an extension of the interior. The floor-to-ceiling sliding glass windows are the defining feature, flooding the rooms with natural light. On the ground floor, two dining rooms and a well-equipped kitchen make it a genuine pleasure for those who want to cook (however you can also have your personal chefs on request), as well as two sitting rooms, with a third on the first floor with large tv’s and comfortable sofas designed for groups that want to be together (and occasionally apart). The heart and soul of the property, and perhaps an aspect that makes this stand out from many amazing villas we have in Italy, is the attention to wellness. Villa Olivo has it’s own spa, housing a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, a fully-equipped gym and access to the yoga studio at the neighbouring Villa Oliveto.

Among the experiences, you can also book a sound healing experience with Francesca Romagnoli, the concierge manager and certified yoga teacher, breath work facilitator and, of course, sound healer. And when the sun begins to set, we highly suggest organising an aperitivo around the fire pit: a glass of bubbles, a few olive ascolane and the kind of quiet that only country villas can offer.