Little Gem No. 037 | Former Monastery

An ancient convent, a family story, and a slower way of seeing Cilento

Some places have been created for travellers. Others have been waiting for them for centuries.

High in the hills of Cilento, in the small village of Cuccaro Vetere, the Convento Francescano is a 14th-century Franciscan convent that has been given a new life by a young family with deep roots in the area. Maria Chiara and Alberto left Milan to return to the land where Alberto’s father, Dante, was born and raised, bringing the old convent back to life with the help of his mother, Patrizia.

The convent itself dates back to 1320, when it was founded to safeguard a sacred relic, the Holy Wood, brought from Jerusalem. For centuries it welcomed pilgrims and travellers seeking quiet and contemplation. Today, that sense of stillness remains, but with a more contemporary interpretation of hospitality.

The Space

The original architecture has been carefully preserved while the interiors have been given a distinctly Italian, contemporary sensibility.

Stone walls, old plaster, timber ceilings, original architectural details and pieces of rural furniture sit alongside carefully chosen contemporary design. The result is elegant without feeling overly polished, a place where centuries-old details and modern comfort live comfortably together.

At the heart of the convent is its old chapel, dedicated to the Holy Wood, with historic frescoes that recall the story of the relic. There are also wonderful communal spaces throughout the property, inviting guests to slow down and relax.

And then there is the Osteria del Convento, run by Patrizia, Alberto’s mother. The kitchen celebrates the food of Cilento, with ingredients from the convent’s own garden and local farms, bringing the family’s connection to the land directly to the table.

The Bedrooms

There are eight rooms and suites, each with its own character.

The largest is the Suite dell’Abate, a 40-square-metre room with stone and timber ceilings, exposed stone walls and an entrance carved into the rock. A freestanding bath sits beneath an original arch, alongside a king-size bed dressed in Rivolta Carmignani linens, Poltrona Frau seating and restored rural furniture.

The Junior Suite del Priore measures 35 square metres and retains fragments of original plaster from what was once the Prior’s cell. There is a freestanding bath, Molteni seating and a mix of contemporary and salvaged rural pieces.

For something particularly atmospheric, the Affresco Signature Room retains original 18th-century frescoes and plasterwork, together with an antique mirror and restored furniture.

There are also four Deluxe Rooms, including the Deluxe del Campanaro, the smallest room in the convent, tucked into the former entrance to the bell tower and opening directly onto the cloister terrace.

The Outdoors

The convent sits within the landscape of the Cilento National Park, a place of wooded hills, ancient paths and long views across southern Campania.

The property has retained its historic relationship with the land, including a garden that provides vegetables and grapes for the convent. There is also a stone swimming pool, heated tubs and a sauna, offering quieter ways to spend an afternoon without leaving the property.

For us, though, the greatest luxury is simply the setting: the sound of the countryside, the changing light over the hills and the feeling of being somewhere slightly removed from the everyday.

The Location

Cuccaro Vetere is a small hill town in the heart of Cilento, surrounded by a landscape that still feels remarkably rural and authentic.

The Cilento National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, known for its mountains, coastline, historic villages and ancient cultural sites. From the convent, you can spend your days walking old paths, exploring hilltop villages, visiting archaeological sites or heading towards the coast.

This is also a part of Italy with a serious food culture. At the convent itself, Patrizia cooks traditional Cilento dishes using seasonal local produce, while the surrounding area is home to small producers and family-run farms.

What Makes It So Special

It is difficult to separate the place from its history.

You are sleeping inside a building that has stood here for more than seven centuries, surrounded by the landscape that sustained the convent for generations. Yet this is not a museum or a preserved monument. A young family has brought it back to life and made it their own, while respecting what was already there.

We love the way the old and new meet here: an original fresco beside contemporary design, a freestanding bath inside an ancient stone room, vegetables from the garden appearing at dinner, and a family story that is still being written.

It feels less like checking into a hotel and more like being invited into a very old Italian story… one that happens to have exceptionally beautiful rooms.

A Little Gem for: history lovers, food-focused travellers, architecture enthusiasts, slow travellers and anyone looking to discover a quieter, more unexpected side of Campania.

Price Indication

Prices start from € 230 per night, with rates depending on the room or suite and the season.

Nearest airport 

Nearest airport: Salerno–Costa d'Amalfi Airport:  approximately 1 hour 10 minutes by car.

Alternative airport: Naples International Airport:  approximately 2 hours by car.

Nearest train station 

Vallo della Lucania–Castelnuovo, approximately 15 minutes by car. The station has daily Frecciarossa and Italo connections.