As the co-owner of Grotte della Civita, a luxury resort dug into a precipice of primeval stones that seemingly rise from nowhere at Matera in Italy’s deepest south, Paolucci knows a thing or two about journeys of discovery and redemption.
Once a refuge for monks, nuns and hermits fleeing persecution in the Middle Ages, the caves slowly fell into oblivion.
For centuries, Matera’s 156 rock crypts and maze of grottoes, known as Sassi, were home to “troglodyte” outcasts living in inhuman conditions.
When inhabitants were driven out in the 1950s, the caves became a haven for prostitutes and junkies.
That was before Paolucci stepped in to help oversee their rebirth as a tourism destination.
“When we entered there were illegal dump sites, prostitutes’ mattresses, drug addicts’ syringes and mistreated pit bulls,” says Paolucci.
Several of Matera’s cave dwellings and crypts have been restored as a “spiritual hotel.”
It’s a destination that offers an attractive blend of isolation and luxury for anyone looking for some stress busting or soul searching.
“They’re enchanted, magical, but real at the same time,” Paolucci adds.
Matera is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and picked as the 2019 European Capital of Culture.
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La Palazzetta del Vescovo
A former summer residence of Todi’s Bishop in the 1700s, this palace, close to Perugia, is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.
It features just nine elegant rooms with old furniture and carpets.
La Palazzetta del Vescovo, Via Clausura 17, Fratta Todina, Perugia; +39 075 8745183
Hotel Monteconero
This impressive 12th-century abbey sits atop the Conero hill in Marche region, a mystical location covered in greenery.
The Romanesque church serves as the reception and hall, while the cloister has been turned into suites.
The view stretches across the Adriatic Coast’s fishing villages and beaches.
Hotel Moteconero, Via Monteconero 26, Sirolo, Ancona; + 39 071 933 0592
