English Umbria enjoys a powerful reputation. The so-called “green heart of Italy” evokes olive-dotted hills, medieval towns and a slower rhythm of life – precisely what many retirees imagine when they picture life under the Italian sun. Yet for those chasing the 7 per cent flat-tax regime (available to new residents with foreign income who settle in municipalities affected by the 2016 earthquakes), Umbria’s romance runs up against hard numbers: the list of eligible Umbrian towns is short, and most are tiny mountain communities with limited services and high seismic risk.
If you love the idea of a central-Italian lifestyle but would prefer more choice, easier access to the sea and faster broadband, it’s worth widening your map. Le Marche, stretching from the Apennines to the Adriatic, ticks many of the same boxes as Umbria – plus a few more.
Umbria: Beautiful, But Bounded
Umbria’s cultural weight is undeniable: Assisi, Spoleto and Orvieto set the tone for centuries of art and pilgrimage. But when you look at the tax-eligible municipalities, reality shrinks fast. Many have fewer than 1,000 residents and sit in seismic Zone 1 (highest risk), meaning stronger building-code restrictions and, sometimes, higher insurance costs. The only larger candidates – Norcia and Cascia – remain charming but isolated. For many foreign retirees, that means either compromising on amenities or spending more time on the road than planned.
Le Marche: Wider Horizons, Same Incentives, Lower Earthquake Risk
Cross the mountains and the picture changes. Le Marche shares Umbria’s hilltown rhythm and Renaissance heritage, yet offers far more choice within the same tax framework. In fact, we dare say, most readers could well believe they are in Tuscany or Umbria if we parachuted them into Marche.
While towns in seven Southern Italian regions qualify for the 7% tax break on account of being relatively small (under 20,000 inhabitants), select towns in Umbria and Marche qualify as they were impacted by earthquakes in recent times. However, analysis of official seismic risk zones shows that qualifying towns in the Marche offer a lower seismic risk profile.
Meet Le Marche
Stretching from the snow-dusted peaks of the Apennines to the Adriatic coast, Le Marche sits quietly between better-known neighbours: Tuscany and Umbria to the west and Abruzzo to the south. Its name simply means “the Marches”, a legacy of medieval borderlands once ruled by dukes and bishops.
For newcomers, this is Italy in cross-section. Within two hours’ drive you move from mountain trails and chestnut forests to sandy beaches and fishing towns. The region’s five provinces (Pesaro-Urbino, Ancona, Macerata, Fermo and Ascoli Piceno) share a reputation for good governance, tidy towns, and an economy still rooted in small family firms. In many ways, and I say this as a Northern Italian, the Marche is the midrift where Northern and Southern Italy culturally meet: accents split the region quite evenly into two, civic pride is still strong and showing in well-kept urban environment, and at the same time there are a strong sense of hospitality, and excellent food.
Practical advantages
- Infrastructure: Three regional airports (Ancona, Perugia, Pescara nearby) and motorway and rail spines linking Florence, Bologna and Rome.
- Healthcare: Consistently ranked among Italy’s top-performing regions, with provincial hospitals in Macerata, Fermo and Ascoli Piceno.
- Cost of living: About 15–25 per cent lower than in Tuscany or Umbria’s tourist centres.
- Lifestyle: Moderate climate, rich food culture (olive oil, truffles, Verdicchio wine) and a strong sense of civic order.
Culturally, Le Marche combines Umbrian calm with Adriatic energy: opera festivals in Macerata, fishermen’s processions in San Benedetto, Renaissance art in Urbino. Yet the region has largely avoided mass tourism, keeping property prices stable and communities authentic.
In short, it’s the same heart-of-Italy landscape but with more coastline, more choice, and often, more value.
Le Marche Towns Qualifying for the 7% Tax Break
The region’s 7% tax towns include dozens of municipalities – many medium-sized, well-connected and within easy reach of the Adriatic.
1. Vibrant hubs
Tolentino (pop. ≈ 17,700) combines small-city convenience with countryside calm. Rail connections link directly to the coast at Civitanova Marche, about 40 kilometres away, and local fibre delivers over 100 Mbps speeds – useful for remote working or video calls home.
Corridonia (14,600) and San Severino Marche (11,800) offer a similar balance: historic centres, walkable streets, solid healthcare and quick access to Macerata’s provincial services.
2. Hilltop beauty
Prefer a classic hilltop setting without giving up modern life?
Matelica (9,000) is known for its Verdicchio DOCG wines and an excellent local network—158 Mbps on recent speed tests.
Offida (4,600) adds wine, lace-making and easy access to the coast near San Benedetto del Tronto.
San Ginesio (3,000), one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages, trades connectivity for atmosphere – worth considering if you value community over convenience.
3. Mountain sanctuaries
For those drawn to nature, Amandola (3,300) and Sarnano (3,000) sit at the gateway to the Sibillini Mountains National Park. Both qualify for the 7 per cent regime, offer stable broadband (above 100 Mbps in Amandola) and year-round outdoor appeal—from skiing in winter to hiking in summer.
Table: Umbria vs. Marche: How The Numbers Stack Up
| Umbria | Le Marche | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible towns (< 20 k residents) | ≈ 14 | Dozens across 3 provinces |
| Towns > 3 k population | 2 (Norcia, Cascia) | 10 + (Tolentino, Corridonia, Matelica etc.) |
| Rail access | Limited | Multiple inland lines |
| Coastline proximity | None | 20–45 km for many towns |
| Seismic zone mix | Mostly Zone 1 (highest risk) | Mostly Zone 2 (moderately high risk) |
| Typical broadband | < 50 Mbps | 100 + Mbps common |
In short, Le Marche delivers more choice and stronger infrastructure without abandoning the landscapes and pace of life that made Umbria famous.
The Marche Visiting Plan
If you’re researching your move, consider a loop trip: start in Macerata, visit Tolentino and San Severino for town-life impressions, continue to Matelica for wine country, then head south to Offida and the Adriatic. You’ll sample most lifestyle types within a few days’ drive.
Before moving ahead, you might want to delve deeper into the legal requirements to avail yourself of the 7% tax regime, either through our FREE GUIDE or our 7% towns list and in-depth guide.
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