The Art of Considered Hospitality

Tucked into the gentle Umbrian hills just south of the Tuscan border, Vocabolo Moscatelli feels less like a hotel and more like an extended home. Set in a restored 12th-century monastery, the property is spacious yet intimate, polished yet entirely unassuming.

Boutique hotels are often celebrated for their tasteful design and sense of character, though that charm can sometimes come at the cost of full-service convenience. Not so here. With just a dozen rooms and suites, the hotel manages to deliver the kind of attentive service and thoughtful amenities typically associated with far larger, five-star properties. Every detail — from tranquil poolside mornings to the quiet precision of the restaurant staff — elevates the stay without ever feeling performative or overworked.

Perhaps it’s because service at Vocabolo Moscatelli resembles the care of close family: effortless and genuine, yet meticulous. For instance, during our stay, the single restaurant server who worked the breakfast shift remembered how we liked our coffee, tea and eggs after the very first morning, and impressed us by recalling it every other day from then on. Thoughtful gestures extend beyond the dining room, too. Upon checking into our room, we found a GHD hair straightener in our closet, a detail we thought not only signaled luxury, but foresight. It’s the sort of inclusion that suggests someone has thoughtfully considered what might make a stay not just enjoyable, but exceptionally comfortable. Elsewhere, questions are answered before they need to be asked, and help arrives before it’s sought.

This level of care stems directly from the vision of Vocabolo Moscatelli’s founders, Frederik Kubierschky and Catharina Lütjens, who met while working at the Park Hyatt in Zurich. With a shared background in luxury hospitality (Frederik previously served as a chief concierge at leading Swiss hotels) the couple infused the restoration with a rare blend of professional polish and personal warmth. Their philosophy, to treat each guest as though “a mother-in-law is arriving for the first time,” is more than a clever line; it’s something guests tangibly feel in every interaction.

Architect Jacopo Venerosi Pesciolini led the thoughtful transformation of the property, where ancient monastery walls now stand alongside mid-century furnishings and locally sourced stone, brass, iron, and terracotta. One of our favorite places to hang out was the back courtyard, where round tables encircle a small fountain. It’s where breakfast is served daily, and where the day always seemed to begin on a graceful note.

The tempo at Vocabolo Moscatelli is unhurried. For those seeking a boutique retreat that combines thoughtful design, heartfelt service, and true relaxation, look no further.

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