Sextantio
Monastic and austere in the best possible way. Rooms have small windows, uneven floors, 17th-century wooden ceilings, wool mattresses on wrought iron frames, and handmade olive oil soaps. No TVs. Candlelit evenings. The design was informed by 1920s ethnographic photographs of Abruzzo by Swiss linguist Paul Scheuermeier, and over a decade of archival research with the Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo. Think living archaeology, not rustic-chic styling.
Book the Early Bird offer for 25% off — it's prepaid and non-refundable but worth it for the savings on €500+/night rates
Why It Matters
One of the original and most cited albergo diffuso concepts in Italy, and arguably the benchmark. The project was serious enough to lobby for legal protections against new construction in the village. It has since spawned a sister property in the Sassi caves of Matera (Le Grotte della Civita) and a social project in Rwanda. Michelin Key-awarded and a member of Design Hotels.
Sextantio Albergo Diffuso is a 16th-century fortified mountain village repurposed as a hotel — not a single building, but 28 rooms and suites scattered across a living village at 1,250 metres in the Gran Sasso National Park. Real residents still live here. The rooms were former stables, barns, wine cellars, and shepherds' lodgings, all restored using original stone and traditional materials, never new construction. It holds a Michelin Key (2024 and 2025) and the restaurant is now helmed by a chef who spent 15 years alongside Niko Romito at three-star Reale.
Where You'll Stay
20 room types available
Camera dei Bambini
Private entrance with convivial room and old furnace. Master bedroom upstairs with terracotta floor, stone fireplace next to the bed, and a freestanding bath placed in front of the bed. Bathroom hidden behind a wall.
Camera sul Campanile
Double room with two single beds on the second floor. Separate bathroom with shower. Features an ancient library containing old books about the history of Abruzzo.
Two single bedsCamera sulla Pineta
Triple room comprising a master bedroom with fireplace and a single bedroom with Queen bed. Separate bathroom with shower. Private entrance from the pine forest with outdoor space. Can connect to 'Fonte del Cane' and 'La Scala Segreta'.
Double + Queen single
Camere sulla Corte
Convivial living room with fireplace for exclusive use; double room plus master bedroom with bathtub and fireplace. Separate bathroom with shower. Mountain views from master bedroom. Private entrance.
Casa con L'Arco in Pietra
Convivial living room for exclusive use with scenic fireplace. Independent entrance near the Medici Tower. Separate bathroom with bathtub, bedroom with wooden ceiling and stone arch.
Il Cancelletto
Triple room: double bedroom with scenic fireplace plus single room with Queen bed. Separate bathroom with bathtub and shower. Private entrance.
Double + Queen single
Il Pagliaio
Convivial living room with scenic fireplace, kitchenette and pantry. Upstairs bedroom with bath/shower, plank hardwood flooring, and balcony with mountain views. Separate bathroom.
Il Vicolo
Double room with Queen bed on the first floor.
QueenL'Alchimista
Convivial living room with scenic fireplace. Upstairs bedroom with bathtub, plank hardwood flooring, and balcony with mountain views. Separate bathroom.
La Camera col Balcone
Bedroom on the first floor with bathroom hidden behind a wall, equipped with shower.
La Camera sul Lago
Bedroom on the first floor with bathroom hidden behind a wall, equipped with shower. Views of Lake Santo Stefano from the window.
La Fonte del Cane
Triple room with large convivial living room with fireplace, master bedroom and single room with desk. Plank hardwood flooring. Separate bathroom with shower. Can connect to neighbouring 'Camera sulla Pineta'.
La Mansarda sulla Piazzetta
Double room of 20 square metres on the second floor with terracotta floor and bathroom hidden behind a wall, equipped with shower.
20 sqm
La Mezzana
Well-lit double room with balcony on the second floor. Separate bathroom with shower. Notable for being brighter than most rooms.
La Stalla
A former stable repurposed as a room, with an atmosphere evoking an austere convent cell yet warm and welcoming. Original stone and ancient materials throughout.
La Stanza sulla Scala di Legno
Double room with fireplace on the second floor. Plank hardwood flooring. Bathroom with shower hidden behind a wall.
La Torre
Suite with fireplace and a Philippe Starck bathtub. Referenced in guest reviews as one of the most romantic rooms in the hotel.
Le Loggette
Two levels: ground floor has a small library with fireplace, sofa and antique books. Upstairs is a large master bedroom with fireplace in front of the bed, an 18th-century hand-painted coffered ceiling, and a separate bathroom with bathtub. Balcony with outdoor loggia overlooking village lanes, plus pine forest views from the opposite window. The single most theatrical room in the property.
Muro Torto
Double room on the second floor with bathroom hidden behind a wall, equipped with shower.
Scala Segreta
Double room with terracotta floor and a wooden loft. Bathroom with bathtub equipped with shower arm. Private entrance. Can connect to neighbouring room 'Camera sulla Pineta'.
The Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The hotel has a guide for birdwatching in the national park, with sightings of hawks, eagles, and buzzards.
With a local housewife, guests prepare dough for focaccia and bread, then bake in a 16th-century wood-burning oven.
Approximately two-hour lesson covering the processing of typical Abruzzo cheeses, followed by tasting.
Two-hour class with the chef cooking traditional Abruzzo dishes including spaghetti alla chitarra and ravioli.
Learn to make traditional Abruzzo pastries including ferratelle (traditional waffle biscuits).
Truffle hunting with a professional trainer and dogs, followed by fresh truffle tasting and a typical local snack.
Visit the village Jewelry Museum followed by an artisan goldsmith workshop where guests create a small filigree amulet. Ends with anti-witchcraft infusion tasting and local folklore stories at the Tisaneria.
Learn the traditional olive oil and beeswax soap-making method, using the same recipe that produces the soaps found in every guest room.
Hands-on weaving course using ancient techniques and traditional instruments at the hotel's own weaving workshop. Woven works, glass, and ceramic goods are also available to purchase.
Guided slow-paced trekking through the Gran Sasso National Park with a mindfulness and awareness focus.
Mountain bikes and snowshoes available for rent to explore the national park independently.
Family-friendly walk with donkeys from Santo Stefano to the Locce viewpoint.
Guided trekking excursion from Santo Stefano di Sessanio to the medieval fortress of Rocca Calascio, 4km away. Available as a package with 2 nights and breakfast.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Complimentary WiFi available in public areas and rooms.
Free buffet breakfast served from 8am to 10:30am, featuring local products.
Dogs and cats allowed in guestrooms (size limitations may apply).
No swimming pool at the property. Pool access is available at partner hotel Albergo Parco Gran Sasso in Castel del Monte, approximately 20 minutes away by car.
Rooms deliberately have no television, in keeping with the medieval immersion concept.
Select rooms feature underfloor heating alongside remote-controlled lighting.
On-site shop selling handmade soaps, woven goods, ceramics, and candles — the same products found in the rooms.
Free self-parking available on-site.
BUILD YOUR SEXTANTIO PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning