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The Albergo Sextantio is a remarkable hotel -
not a single structure but made up of rooms and
apartments scattered through the walled town of
Santo Stefano di Sessanio, once under the
control of Florence's Medici family. Hence the
characterization of the hotel as an "albergo
diffuso", a unique concept in Italian tourism.
Santo Stefano is a fortified
medieval burgh rising on a pre-existent
Italic-Roman site. It located at an altitude of
1250 meters in the heart of the Apennine
mountains near L'Aquila inside the Gran Sasso &
Monti della Laga National Park, in Abruzzo. Santo Stefano
is posessed of an incredibly evocative
atmosphere derived from its medieval origins.
Here there are narrow and winding alleys,
piazzas, arches, wells and fountains and of
course, houses and other buildings which have
stood their ground for centuries.
The rooms and apartments themselves have been
imaginatively and authentically restored, many
with open-hearth fireplaces, terraces,
courtyards and other features that will draw you
back in time. The amenities, naturally,
are all first class - comforts, alas, that the
original inhabitants did not have.
The surrounding landscape is enthralling: the
terraced fields are bordered by dry stone walls
and give way to wilder lands and ancient forests
that move up the slopes of the Appenines - a
complex environment where, over the centuries
man and nature have settled into an abiding
relationship. It is, in short a place
where walkers, hikers and bikers will find
themselves powerfully engaged with the land.
Palazzo delle Logge
One of the principal buildings of Albergo
Sextantio is the Renaissance style Palazzo delle
Logge, set in a dominating central position overlooking
the borgo's main piazza by the Porta Medicea, or
Medicean Gate and bounded by a defensive tower
of medieval provenance.
Here there are 6 large rooms all with wood burning fireplaces and
heated floors. As with all the best
hotels, they meet the most demanding
contemporary standards to provide the maximum
comfort and well-being.
The Palazzo also has various common rooms -
lounges, a bar, and 2 meeting rooms, one that can
accommodate up 25 people and the other up to 70 participants.
The Hotel's restaurant also shares the medieval
atmosphere, but it has been equipped with the
most modern equipment so the hotel's chef can
deliver excellent meals made with an abundance
of local ingredients. The wine cellar
features a wide selection of Italian wines from
Abruzzo and other regions as well as
International selections. Three is also a
tearoom and an enoteca.
Guests are welcome to use free mountainbikes and
VisitsItaly can help you arrange cooking
classes and other activities at the hotel, as
well as excursions to L'Aquila and other
destinations in Abruzzo.
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