The Magic of Abruzzo

During the reign of Medici family the village had a great economy especially in the sheep breeding and wood trade. Today it is listed among the most beautiful boroughs in Italy. Lately a young Swedish entrepreneur bought a part of the village in order to create a so called “albergo diffuso” – extended hotel, symbol of a great restoration and development. Close to Santo Stefano di Sessanio you will discover Rocca Calascio, another medieval borough famous for its white stones. The fortress is located 1.460 m over the sea level, which makes the castle the highest one in Italy.
The movie lovers will rember this place! Here Ladyhawke and Il Nome della Rosa were set.

The borough is wonderfully located between majestic Gran Sasso, the highest mountain of the region, the Campo Plateau and Majella and Sirente mountains.

This lovely village is listed among the most beautiful boroughs in Italy, everywhere you can breathe an extraordinary magic atmosphere; in is narrow streets and sporti (tunnels naturally carved in the rocks) and especially at night, when it seems like travelling back in time.

Going up Saggitario Gorge, an unspoilt and savage natural reserve, which dates back to millions of years ago, when the sea arrived up to here, you will arrive in this lovely village which was loved and portrayed by many Italian and international photographers, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Mario Giacomelli, Renzo Tortelli, Gianni Berengo Gardin, Ferdinando Scianna and others. For this region it deserves the definition of “photographers city”, and it’s true, because when you wander around the village, in these narrow streets, it seems like being in an old time photograph!