Santo Stefano di Sessanio another beautiful village in the hearth of the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e dei Monti della Laga

The village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio is perhaps the most fascinating of all of man’s achievements in the entire Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e dei Monti della Laga. It is built entirely out of white limestone, which has become dulled with time. All the houses are covered with clay tiles, providing a harmonious overall view to those gazing down on it from the top of the Medici tower.

The village is considered one of the most beautiful among Abruzzo villages, for its pure environmental values, architectural dignity and stylistic homogeneity. Its streets, which must be explored on foot, are extremely varied, from the steep stairs skirting the Church of Santa Maria in Ruvo (13th-14th century), to the twisting stone-paved streets that wind between the houses and lead to the Tower, to the long path created beneath the houses to protect them from the snow and the icy winter winds.
Built during the rule of the Medici are the elegant arcades, the arched portals tiled with flower motifs, the stone windows finely crafted and decorated by expert hands, the marvelous mullioned windows and the balconies.

The southeast gate bears the coat of arms of the Signoria of Florence, which left a small but precious grain of its refined civilization in these mountains. Although there are no real fortified walls, the village is entirely surrounded by an unbroken line of buildings, which served as both houses and defense walls, as is further evidenced by their very few and small windows.

Walking through the tortuous streets, one may admire the 15th-century buildings, such as the Casa del Capitano (Captain’s House), and the tower built in the 1300s and improperly called the Medici tower, from the top of which there is an enchanting view that takes in the Tirino and Aterno valleys and stretches as far as the Sirente and Maiella mountain chains.

Unfortunately the 2009 earthquake damaged a great part of the tower, but the magic feeling is still there; Santo Stefano di Sessanio has kept its beauty and mistery during centuries, and even the earthquake hasn't cancelled the unique atmosphere and history that conquers your heart and memories once visting this wonderful medieval village..

The Church of Santo Stefano Protomartire, built in the 14th-15th century, has a single nave with five bays and an unusual presbytery area opening into chapels and a semicircular apse. Also important is the Church of the Madonna del Lago, from the 17th century, which stands just outside the walls, on the green shores of a small lake.

Santo Stefano di Sessanio deserves a visit on every season, but in our opinion, it reaches its most during summer time, when the fresh air combined with a lovely sun, give you the perfect place where to relax, enjoy the local environment and activities , visiting the other close villages as Castel del Monte and Rocca Calascio and eat delicious local food and wine.

Moreover remember that Santo Stefano di Sessanio is part of the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, so if you like ecotourism, you will find plenty of activities which respond to your needs. You can do long walk surrounded by the poetry of the nature and its magical silence, you go riding or cycling....there are an endless list of thinks you can do while visiting this lovely area; just remember that we suggest it to people who love spending their holidays in a peaceful environment, in contact with nature and its incredible beauties; what make Santo Stefano di Sessanio special, is its simplicity, its link with the past...everything over there is so traditional that it's like living in another historical period.

If you decide to spent the night in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, there are lot of place you can choose among, from bed and breakfast to apartment, and if you want to spoil yourself and the one you love, we suggest to reserve a room at the Sextantio , the popular "hotel diffuso", which means that every room or hotel service , like the reception or restaurant are located in a different building, which have been all restored , maintaining anyway the original material and atmosphere.

Whenever you decide do visit Santo Stefano di Sessanio, remember that the aim of this blog is to help you to "build" your customized travel in Abruzzo, so don't hesitate to ask us any more information by email or  just by adding a comment. We will help you to sort out your enquiries and to take the best from your holidays. And if you have already been there or once you come back home, don't forget to share your pictures with us....we would be very please.

Enjoy....