Village of St. Stefano of Sessanio (AQ)

Prov. L'Aquila - 1250m s.l.m. - 114 abitanti

This medieval hill town, once related to the dynasty of Medici is completely stone-built and it is located in the alluring Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, nearby the enchanting upland of Campo Imperatore.

The town is the first " Albergo Diffuso" in Abruzzo and it represents a model of redevelopment and protection of the territory thanks to the young businessman Daniele Elow Kihlgren.  The old and charming homes of the town are converted out of several tourist accommodations.

The town is entirely made of calcareous white stone and it is the most beautiful place in Abruzzo for its unspoilt natural surroundings, architectural ornaments and stylistic homogeneity.

Its greatest splendor was during the 16th century under the Signoria of Florence, becoming the manufacturing hub of the profitable business of "carfagna" wool, a valuable good managed in Toscana and sold in all Europe.

The crenellated cylindrical tower, named " Medicea" is the most representative symbol of the town.

The reconstruction of the area damaged by the earthquake in 2009 hasn't finished yet and the buildings are still supported by metal scaffolding. The town was a circular plan look-out tower, made of stone with some windows on the central body and simple battlements on the top.

The town is well-known for the organic lentils plantations at thousand of meters above the sea, surrounded by the uncontaminated nature of the National Park, and for preserving traditional working methods.