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Italy’s top 5 places to disconnect and disappear

Sometimes the best way a luxury travel advisor can help you is to make you disappear. It is shocking, I know, and counterintuitive. While most of the times I help travelers to see and been seen in the right places, there are times when I simple say NO to this. What you really want is an escape from civilization. Over the years IÂ’ve advised my travelers to say NO to the crowd and the routine way of travel for a short while. NO to Amalfi Coast during the touristic peak hours. NO to the nice, centrally located hotels that are annoyingly noisy. And No to be in the crowd while you are on your “off” time. I challenge you to travel in these ItalyÂ’s top 3 secret hideaways to block out all the crowds, noises, and have some quality time for yourself. This is the real luxury – to relax, rest, and feel the simple good things while in close contact with nature. By saying NO to modernity, you are saying YES to a happier you. 1. Eremito, somewhere in Umbria Here is THE place to detest modern technology and do a digital detox. This 17th-century, convent-turned property is found in the middle of a massive lush forest, somewhere in Umbria. No telephone, no Wi-Fi, no television, no air conditioner (great weather here anyway). Here is the place to detest modern technology and do a digital detox. YouÂ’ll wake up in a room with minimal decoration, bare stone vaults, and wooden bookshelves. YouÂ’ll hear Gregorian chant on your way to the candle-lit lounge, where you sit on pads to meditate or just do nothing. Food is all prepared with homegrown ingredients and described as “divinely cooked.” It’s a pilgrimage place for someone who wants to disconnect for real. eremito 2. Nun Assisi Relais & Spa Musuem, Assisi Also built out of an ancient monastery, this place is a little less extreme than Eremito. You can still feel the town life of Assisi (hometown of Saint Francis), yet the areaÂ’s mystic ambience is unbeatable. Surrounded by mildly curved mountains and a lavender field, the whole property is soaked in lavenderÂ’s aromatic smell. It is easy to spend days just marveling the monasteryÂ’s simple architecture and the mountain views here. Have I mentioned the spa yet? This place is named as a “Spa Museum” for legitimate reasons –you get to experience the real Roman bath while admiring the six limestone pillars of the first century AD surrounding the pool. nun 3. Monastero Santa Rosa, the Amalfi Coast This is my ultimate secret for you in Amalfi Coast – stay here, and youÂ’ll see why soon. At least movie star Sofia Loren saw it. This place is right beside her old villa. Perched on a spectacular cliff between Amalfi town and Positano, this monastery-turned-hotel isolates itself from all the masses in this extremely touristic region. The Mediterranean Sea breeze and the ancient bell sound are going to be the only things you hear. While the masses are lining up in front of gelato stores in the town on the other side, you are “al-fresco” dining in a tranquil terrace overlooking the intensely blue water. The dramatic costal landscape full of towering cliffs arrests your eyes. The abundant scent of lemon and rosemary soothes your senses. People have told me that they have redefined “good life” after having been here. monastero santa rosa 4. Poecylia, remote part of Sardinia This bright-colored resort is a wild childhood dream coming true. Located in a remote part of Sardinia, which is already remote from ItalyÂ’s main peninsula, this resort was originally photographer Piero GiaculliÂ’s meditation sanctuary. Featuring amazing views of stargazing, gentle sea wind, rustic houses painted in rough brushstrokes, Poecylia has a sense of child-like charm. This is the perfect escape for adults who have a child living within them. Colorful art, island exploration, and pebble beach are the main focus here. It exudes such a special sense of joie de vivre and naiveté. poecylia resort 5. Adler Mountain, the Dolomites Mountain lovers need to mark down this lodge as their new favorite. YouÂ’ll enter an upland pasture in the jagged Dolomites mountain. I personally recommend clients to come here during winter, and experience the jingling sleigh rides through the snow-covered countryside. Simply magic. Clients always say they find the perfect “Nordic” experience here, where they can ski all day long and immerse themselves in rocky landscape. In no-snow seasons, this incredibly beautiful area is also perfect for horse riding, Alpine golfing, and endless walking trails to see spectacular views of the Dolomites. Oh, donÂ’t forget to try the specialty omelet with meadow herbs here, which is their regional niche plate you wonÂ’t find anywhere else. So fresh. adler mountain lodge Paul Lewis is Managing Director at Luxo Italia. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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2 Comments

  1. What an evocative title! It was the title that brought me to this comment box.
    Let me share something about the picture of Eremito. The arches inside this building remind me of the monuments in Delhi. This was one of the reasons to seek you out here. By the way, I discovered this post on Flipboard but could not post any comment there.

  2. Thank you for stopping by, and I’m glad you found us on Flipboard. This post has been popular on there but sadly I don’t think they pass on the opportunity to comment. To the best of my knowledge, you have to visit the actual site as you did. I think this may be true for other sites featuring on Flipboard also…

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