The Town of Ave Maria is the first modern town developed in conjunction with a University. Located just east of Naples, it has been designed from the ground up to be a compact, walkable, self-sustaining town that reflects the community's rural roots while offering a full range of residential options and commercial services to its residents.  Much more than just a development, Ave Maria is a real hometown.

Importantly, Ave Maria has been designed to human scale. Street networks, distinctive character, and environmental sustainability are integral to its planning. It is a true community, a place where residents of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities and religions live, work and play -- where neighbors care about neighbors, friendships span generations, and a sense of pride is felt by every resident, student, business owner and employee.

The Ave Maria community totals 5,000 acres, of which nearly 20% has been set aside for the University and its future growth. Connecting the University and the Town is La Piazza, anchored by the landmark Oratory and incorporating retail and commercial space as well as residential condominiums.

Two additional commercial centers are included to provide essential goods and services, entertainment and dining, enabling residents and students alike to live, work and play within the community, often traveling by foot or bicycle.

When completed, the Town will contain some 11,000 residential dwellings in a wide variety of price ranges and neighborhoods. From condominiums to villas, and from starter to estate homes, Ave Maria will offer something for nearly everyone.

Community resources include an on-site fire/sheriff/EMS building, as well as medical facilities provided by Emergency Physicians Network and a Dentist Office.

A significant network of parks and recreational areas has been included; in fact, about 45% of the total town area is devoted to lakes and open space. The Collier County Public Schools will build both an elementary and a middle school, and a K-12 parochial school is now bustling with students.