Sextantio Albergo Diffuso

We visited Santo Stefano di Sessanio as part of a classic car tour. Its stunning location atop a hill in Abruzzo was the perfect end to a day of torturous driving. On arrival it was easy to understand the history of this village once abandoned when its industry left, a typical story of many such high outposts in this beautiful part of Italy. Thankfully someone with intelligence, sensitivity and courage took on this incredible restoration which could not have been more sympathetic to the village homes now hotel rooms. To say that this project continues to be herculean is an understatement. But I had to stop at reception on departure to say that I had such respect for the enterprise in every detail. Every time a decision was taken by the restoration team, the easy temptation to choose modernity was abandoned in favour of authenticity, character and spirit. I have been privileged to stay in many villages that become hotels but nothing has compared to the aura of Sextantio Albergo Diffuso. Every detail was exceptional including breakfast foods recreating old Abruzzese recipes I knew to be genuine. The only reason for my four star review is the reality that access to some of the village homes might be treacherous for those with mobility difficulties and, lighting while authentic, could have been the one concession in interiors to safety especially on staircases. But beyond that, this outpost is an experience to treasure and deserves high praise.

We had a wonderful 2-night stay at Sextantio Albergo Diffuso. We had high expectations having previously stayed at the sister property in Matera. But we were not disappointed. Our room was beautiful, comfortable and spacious with great attention to authentic detail. The surrounding Gran Sasso National Park is stunning and offers great opportunities for activities like hiking to Rocca Calascio. All the staff we encountered were so friendly and professional and we enjoyed delicious breakfasts. A highlight of our stay was the cheese making course with Serena. She was such a delight and so informative. I highly recommend a visit to the village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. It is truly a magical place, and Daniele Kihlgren and his team have enabled people like us to experience amazing hospitality in such a unique setting.

We stayed at the Sextantio hotel in Matera and loved it so much that we basically re-engineered our entire winter itinerary just to spend three days at their sibling property, Diffuso Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Zero regrets — except maybe that we didn’t move in permanently. The attention and care that’s gone into revitalizing this hilltop town is unreal. It’s like someone lovingly dusted off history, patched up the stone walls, and said, “Okay, everyone back to being charming again.” The locals are so kind that we briefly wondered if we’d wandered onto the set of an Italian hospitality commercial. And since it’s inside Gran Sasso National Park, you also get jaw-dropping natural beauty included free of charge. Views so gorgeous they should come with a warning label. Highly recommend the cheese-making course with Serena. She doesn’t just teach you about cheese — she basically escorts you on a time-traveling adventure. 10/10 would stir curds again! Included is a charcuterie board and glass of wine. Great value for the experience!

This place is more atmospheric than the photos or descriptions can help to describe, and more comfortable than I expected. I loved the wool mattress bed and gorgeous crisp linens. The creaky old floorboards brought back memories from childhood and are polished to be wonderfully soft underfoot. I loved having a small fireplace I could use on a cold night. As I sipped on local wine and nibbled at "wine doughnuts" I helped to make. The bathroom I had was open (no lockable door) but felt well separated from the rest of the room and was well-appointed. Of the many interesting activities and amenities for this "albergo diffuso," I can heartily recommend the truffle hunting and learning to bake in a woodfire oven with a man who measures and mixes only with his hands, as his grandmother taught him to do. I also loved the frittatas for breakfast and the innovative often exciting tasting menu at the main restaurant. I think the value of this place is hard to measure, as you're simply never going to stay in a place that is like it or managed to the same level of detail. It's not hard to find and if you park where they suggest they'll have porters to help you with luggage. It's a wonderful town perched in the middle of a quietly magical part of Italy.

The location is amazing! I wanted a unique experience on our first trip to Abruzzo, and this was certainly it! We stayed for two nights (Saturday & Sunday) in the Casa con L'Arco suite under the Medici Tower. We entered the suite to lovely candlelight and a tasty cordial, very romantic. It was charming & rustic, but so clean, a private bathroom with a tub/shower (the handheld shower attaches to a ceiling mount to create a shower effect - the water splashes everywhere, lol, but the terra cotta tiles dry quickly) and private bedroom. They provided plenty of towels, robes and slippers! We found the beds comfortable, with plenty of blankets to keep us warm. It did get a little chilly at night, but our suite included a fireplace. My only issue with the room was that the two outlets we had (only in the bathroom) were recessed into the wall and prevented our adapters from plugging in firmly. I would add a small area rug on each side of the bed. There was a step stool to get onto the bed, which was helpful. The town is tranquil, relaxed, safe and scenic. There are amazing views with every step you take. It certainly gave me a feeling of serenity. We weren't able to get into the hotel restaurant, but we had a fabulous dinner at La Locanda Sul Lago our first night. Our server was amazing as well. She didn't speak much english, but she appreciated my attempt at speaking Italian and was delightful! Dinner at Cuore Nero our second night was fabulous as well. We took a day trip to Sulmona and Rocca Calascio (we had a rental car). So much in this area to see and do if you want to get away from the tourist crowds and just enjoy old Italy. There were a couple tour groups that came through the town, which was annoying, but once they left there was peace. I would be remiss if I didn't mention how fantastico the people and the service were at Sextantio. Anything we needed, any questions we had, taken care of right away. The gentleman at the front desk was so very helpful and kind. The porters were wonderful and careful with our bags. Value is subjective, our stay was worth every penny to us. Would highly recommend staying here.