Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a medieval village located in Abruzzo, Italy, 1250 meters above sea level inside the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park. This charming village was abandoned for a while (before it was ruled by the Medicis family) but was rediscovered in 1999 by a swedish-italian multimillionaire committed to restoring it. Currently, Santo Stefano di Sessanio is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Italy (part of I Borghi Più Belli D’Italia) and has become a tourist stop, even though it’s an undiscovered gem for many.
Fun Fact: Since 2020 the government of Italy has been offering young people to move into the village for at least five years and help develop the economy, receiving a grant for living and starting their own business. If you are interested in this opportunity find more information here.
Take your time, put your phone away and enjoy every corner of Santo Stefano di Sessanio
Our day trip to Santo Stefano di Sessanio was lovely. We spent hours getting lost around the charming streets, alleyways and little details everywhere you look. Once you get there, there’s a little cafe where you can have a proper Italian breakfast with delicious local biscuits and coffee to gain some energy for the rest of your day.
Our honest suggestion for exploring Santo Stefano di Sessanio: don’t plan too much, just let yourself get lost and enjoy the feeling of walking around this authentic medieval village.
If you love to take photos or you want to have some good memories for Instagram, this is the perfect place for you, you have no idea how many photos we have! But also, we strongly recommend taking your time, putting your phone away and just walking and appreciating the details you’ll find in every corner.
Another thing that Santo Stefano di Sessanio stands out for is the little local shops. If you are planning to buy gifts or take some Abruzzese memorabilia this is the perfect opportunity to do so. Some of the places that caught our attention for the quality and originality of their products are:
- L’AquiLANA Lana Italiana – everything wool related, a beautiful store with beautiful creations.
- La bottega delle arti e dei mestieri – huge variety of handmade products, it feels like you are lost in a fairytale. If you love cats this is your place, lots of art pieces are cat-inspired 🙂 We loved our chat with the owner!
- Local bar – this is a must! As soon as you get to Santo Stefano di Sessanio, go to the local bar and have a proper Italian breakfast of snacks. Feel free to try any of their Abruzzese biscuits, we bought 3 packs and they disappeared in a matter of minutes 🙂
- …or literally anywhere! Any store or restaurant you visit in Santo Stefano will give you an authentic experience. Everyone in this village is passionate and committed to showing you the best face of Abruzzo! Support the local community and help this beautiful town thrive.
TCND Trip Tips
>Allow at least 3 hours of your day to immerse yourself
>You need your own car to visit this town, but it’s very easy to find parking
>Comfortable shoes are mandatory 🙂
>Most stores take cards but the payment points can be funny. Bring some cash with you just in case!
A must-see medieval village called Santo Stefano di Sessanio
July 18, 2022
Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a medieval village located in Abruzzo, Italy, 1250 meters above sea level inside the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga national park. This charming village was abandoned for a while (before it was ruled by the Medicis family) but was rediscovered in 1999 by a swedish-italian multimillionaire committed to restoring it. Currently, Santo Stefano di Sessanio is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Italy (part of I Borghi Più Belli D’Italia) and has become a tourist stop, even though it’s an undiscovered gem for many.
Fun Fact: Since 2020 the government of Italy has been offering young people to move into the village for at least five years and help develop the economy, receiving a grant for living and starting their own business. If you are interested in this opportunity find more information here.
Our day trip to Santo Stefano di Sessanio was lovely. We spent hours getting lost around the charming streets, alleyways and little details everywhere you look. Once you get there, there’s a little cafe where you can have a proper Italian breakfast with delicious local biscuits and coffee to gain some energy for the rest of your day.
Our honest suggestion for exploring Santo Stefano di Sessanio: don’t plan too much, just let yourself get lost and enjoy the feeling of walking around this authentic medieval village.
If you love to take photos or you want to have some good memories for Instagram, this is the perfect place for you, you have no idea how many photos we have! But also, we strongly recommend taking your time, putting your phone away and just walking and appreciating the details you’ll find in every corner.
Another thing that Santo Stefano di Sessanio stands out for is the little local shops. If you are planning to buy gifts or take some Abruzzese memorabilia this is the perfect opportunity to do so. Some of the places that caught our attention for the quality and originality of their products are:
- L’AquiLANA Lana Italiana – everything wool related, a beautiful store with beautiful creations.
- La bottega delle arti e dei mestieri – huge variety of handmade products, it feels like you are lost in a fairytale. If you love cats this is your place, lots of art pieces are cat-inspired 🙂 We loved our chat with the owner!
- Local bar – this is a must! As soon as you get to Santo Stefano di Sessanio, go to the local bar and have a proper Italian breakfast of snacks. Feel free to try any of their Abruzzese biscuits, we bought 3 packs and they disappeared in a matter of minutes 🙂
- …or literally anywhere! Any store or restaurant you visit in Santo Stefano will give you an authentic experience. Everyone in this village is passionate and committed to showing you the best face of Abruzzo! Support the local community and help this beautiful town thrive.
TCND Trip Tips
>Allow at least 3 hours of your day to immerse yourself
>You need your own car to visit this town, but it’s very easy to find parking
>Comfortable shoes are mandatory 🙂
>Most stores take cards but the payment points can be funny. Bring some cash with you just in case!