Sextantio

Top choice in Abruzzo

This enchanting albergo diffuso, with 28 distinctive rooms and suites scattered throughout the village, was what helped rescue Santo Stefano from oblivion. Designed to reignite Italy's lesser-known settlements without scrimping on luxury, they marry traditional handmade bedspreads and rustic furniture with under-floor heating, mood lighting and divinely deep bathtubs. Everything was restored using local materials.

The hotel's restaurant, Locanda Sotto gli Archi, serves quality regional fare in a 16th-century dining room.