Eremito, a 14th-century residence turned sustainable solo retreat in central Italy, offers extreme travel for the soul. Amidst some 7,000 acres on an Umbrian hillside, the lodging has 14 stone-walled rooms that are defined by what they lack: TV, Internet, phone service, and double occupancy. Dreamed up by fashion designer and hotelier Marcello Murzilli, the hotel is part monastic retreat (daily meditation sessions and Gregorian chants) and part aesthete’s delight (chairs cut from stone, elegant cave pools). Keep in mind that Eremito (meaning “hermit”) takes its name literally. Inspired by ancient monasteries nearby, the hotel asks that you eat its candlelit organic vegetarian dinners in silence.
The hotel also has a commitment to sustainability, sourcing many of the ingredients for their dinners from nearby, collecting rainwater for irrigation of the grounds, and making use of energy efficient electricity, heating, and cooling systems.
How to get there
It’s about one and a half to two hours from Rome, Florence, or Perugia—all of which have international airports—to the hotel. From there, it’s easiest to rent a car and drive.
