Marche has real seasons with guaranteed sunshine in summer and snow on the mountains in winter. If you like sport you'll need both a swimsuit and a pair of skis.

Spring arrives in April with clear skies, warm days and the meadows are full of wild flowers. After the cuckoos in April I look forward to the fire flies in June who create the most exquisite natural firework displays I've ever seen. The hottest months are July and August and this deep warmth is one of the reasons I came to Italy. Late summer often brings big purple storms that clear as dramatically as they arrive. Indeed the annual rainfall is similar the the UK, which accounts for the lush green of the region throughout the hottest months.

Autumn is my favourite time, with long shadows, crisp air and the fields are bustling with the grape, chestnut and olive harvests. In winter you can enjoy the quiet of the villages, the soft colours of the countryside and roast some chestnuts on an open fire. I especially like the Marche beaches in winter, their palm trees wrapped against the cold, and after a long walk you can always find a fish restaurant open and there is nothing better than eating spicy spaghetti al mare on a frosty day. Low cloud and shifting fog are spectacular winter weather phenomena of Marche. I relish the days when the skies are white and the hill-towns float above the clouds like planets all of their own.

In the years I've lived here I've been through numerous pairs of sunglasses, flip-flops, Wellington boots and show chains. But no weather lasts for long. I enjoy it all and always know that a warm day is just around the corner.

FACTS ABOUT THE WEATHER

Average monthly maximum temperatures

Annual rainfall average 762 mm.

BBC weather forecast for Ancona