History and heritage Madeline and Tim knew they had found the right property the moment they saw Hotel Leone. It had everything they had been looking for: a village location, a historic past and space for a restaurant, pool and dining terraces. The property’s original heritage dates to 1501 where documents refer to it as Palazzo Pellei – the name of a then noble and powerful Italian family. Over the centuries, the fabric of the building had evolved resulting in a mixture of styles and architectural features. Until the 1980s the property was known as Taverna del Leone. The palazzo needed complete renewal, total modernisation and sensitive renovation. Every element of the structure needed careful attention. For example, what is now the wine cellar was hidden behind a wall which had been blocked up. Madeline explains, “After Tim and I studied some old plans of the building we quickly realised it was a false wall and opened it up to see what was behind. After excavating hundreds of years’ worth of silt and mud, a cosy wine cellar was created. The cellar is, in fact, a blocked-off tunnel which would have been an underground route beneath the town. Montelparo is a fortified town and as with many of these historic locations it has its own network of hidden passageways beneath the buildings, allowing residents to move secretly from one side of the town to the other.” A labour of love The transformation process and the restoration journey were intensive but fuelled by Tim and Madeline’s unshakeable passion for their new project. The interiors of the hotel were designed, and all materials selected by Madeline herself. Where possible, architectural features were saved and further complemented by original antiques and more modern design-led furnishings. Lighting was sourced from an artisan manufacturer based near Montelparo and Tim’s passion for art deco is beautifully de-
picted in the reception and bar areas, where a sense of timeless glamour has been masterfully recreated. The lion’s share of the restoration work was physically carried out by Tim and Madeline. The acres of tiling, decorating and fitting were undertaken personally by them, the structure of the building along with the repointing of the old stone walls handled by local builders. Throughout this vast project Tim and Madeline used environmentally friendly techniques and materials where possible, and Hotel Leone utilises solar power energy and has its own rainwater collection system for watering the plants on the terrace. Today, Hotel Leone is Le Marche’s leading boutique hotel with guests visiting from all around the globe. Madeline effortlessly oversees every minute detail of the hotel’s daily management. From meeting and greeting guests through to managing VIP events, planning authentic excursions and arranging boutique weddings. Her eye for the finer details is impressive to say the least, from the handpicked artisan nibbles in the rooms to her impressive knowledge of Italian wines. As head chef, Tim’s passion for good food can be found woven throughout his seasonal menus which feature local products from Le Marche, which he treats with a contemporary approach. “We offer our guests modern Le Marche dishes that use traditional ingredients prepared with a fresh and creative approach. Our menus are interesting – we push a few boundaries and combine flavours from around the globe. These work well alongside more classic regional flavours.” Madeline and Tim’s story is inspiring to say the least. Not only have they lovingly transformed a crumbling old palace into a luxurious boutique hotel, they have also proved that passion, commitment and hard work can in fact turn dreams into a reality no matter how hard the challenge.
Madeline and Tim Jones - owners of Hotel Leone in Le Marche
“We spent our honeymoon in Italy enjoying a taste of la dolce vita and both felt an instant affinity to this land of good food, fine wine and abundant natural beauty.”
www.hotelleonemarche.com
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