If you’re looking for the true Italian medieval experience, the S. Stefano Di Stefano is the place for you. Located in the Gran Sasso village and the Monti Della Laga national park of the Abruzzo mountains, this hotel is a rural Italian “albergo diffuso” (village hotel) that is dedicated to upholding the heritage of the village’s past. This hotel was built in an effort to preserve the integrity of the village and its surrounding environment. The welcoming of tourists brought the village back to life without destroying the Santo Stefano identity. Traces of countryside life is preserved through the hotel’s use of original architectural materials, furniture and textiles from the Abruzzo mountains. Artisan skills dated back from many centuries ago were revived with how the architects Oriano Associati Architetti sought assistance from the Museum of the People of Abruzzo and with the advice of the elders in the town. The culinary heritage and rituals of the village exist within the hotel’s core creating a presence for the rich culture of this Italian medieval town to strive.
