Just two hours from Rome’s Fiumicino international airport lies a little-known region of Italy called Abruzzo, between the Apennines Mountains and the Adriatic Sea. While the region does not yet have a luxury hotel of an international standard, it does offer small properties of comfort and character. For the August 2018 Hideaway Report we discovered one hotel set in a 17th-century castle and the other in formerly abandoned stone houses in a fortified medieval village.
This beautiful hilltop hotel is housed within a 17th-century castle, which is part of the renowned Masciarelli winery. Charming public rooms offer panoramic views of vineyards and Apennines peaks. The 11 individually decorated guest accommodations feature a minimalist design with stylish rustic accents. The 1,290-square-foot Superior Suite Granaio on the top floor of the house’s former granary comes with beamed ceilings, a terra-cotta tile floor and impressive 360-degree views thanks to no fewer than 17 windows.
From the editor: “The property has handsome public rooms, including a bar with vaulted ceilings where you can sample some of the excellent wines produced by the estate.”
Read more about Castello di Semivicoli.
At an elevation of 4,100 feet, this unique hotel is located in the fortified medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. The 29 accommodations are dispersed among formerly abandoned stoned houses of an ancient village that have been painstakingly brought back to life by visionary hotelier Daniele Kihlgren. Rooms are tastefully appointed with locally inspired design details such as handwoven Abruzzese coverlets, venerable furniture and an abundance of candles but have been modernized to comprise Philippe Starck-designed baths and extremely comfortable beds (no TVs or phones).
From the editor: “Those who require 24-hour room service, a pillow menu and other tropes of five-star luxury will feel greatly deprived at Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, but for more-adventurous travelers this hotel offers a rare and exceptionally memorable experience.”
Read more about Sextantio Albergo Diffuso.
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