 In 1920, the tenor was knighted by Vittorio Emmanuelle III, King of Italy, making him "Cavaliere De La Corona Italiana and Commendatore Dell Popolo Romano" (Knight of the Italian Crown and Commandant of the Roman People).Though he did not see it happen during his lifetime, Puerto Rico also built the Music Conservatory, something for which Paoli had worked so hard to establish.This dream was finally realized shortly after his death.