Italy’s “diffused hotels”
How rethinking hospitality is saving the country’s medieval villages
How many times, while walking through the narrow streets of a quaint, charming Italian village, have you wondered what the interiors of historical homes look like? Peeking through open windows is no longer necessary to satisfy your curiosity – now you can sleep in them.
Diffused hotels, known in Italian as “alberghi diffusi,” were born in the north-eastern town of Carnia, in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, as a way to repurpose the houses and villages that had been left uninhabited after the 1976 earthquake. Diffused hotels allow people who want to visit small, historical towns and villages to live in close contact with local residents, combining all the typical services offered by hotels with the comforts of a home. Many of these inns have been created with the intention of bringing abandoned structures back to life in order to revitalize the community and maintain the traditional character of the villages.
The first diffused hotel in Italy was introduced in 1982 after Tourism Management Professor Giancarlo Dall’Ara developed the idea of a hospitality solution that would offer a unique experience to travelers while helping the city recover from the damage produced by the earthquake. Since then much has changed, and diffused hotels have become an internationally recognized example of Italian hospitality, which countries like Switzerland, Croatia, and Japan are ready to emulate in the near future. The concept is simple: rather than occupying the same building or area, the rooms and apartments of diffused hotels are scattered around the village, integrated into the urban fabric, and managed by a central reception that provides guests with all the services they need. A sustainable way to expand the tourism industry, which offers the opportunity to experience Italy’s rural town from within.
A solution for Italy’s depopulation problem?
While the first “albergo diffuso” was created to allow a town to recover from a natural disaster, a more common issue could be solved with the development of diffused hotels. For years, small Italian villages known as “borghi” have suffered from depopulation. Urban centers dating back to the Middle Ages have seen their communities vanish due to the reduced opportunities and infrastructure. The lack of children has led to the closure of schools, and public transport is often limited, making it difficult for people to reach cities where most jobs are. As reported by the newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, many small municipalities have lost over half of their population over the course of the past forty years, with mountain villages like Roio del Sangro, in the Abruzzo region, or Marcetelli, in the Lazio region, where communities have decreased by up to 81%, leaving just a few hundred people behind.
Different initiatives have been tested to attract new residents to these charming but neglected villages. One of the most successful operations was the sale of houses for a symbolic price of only 1€ – a campaign picked up by the New York Times that caught international attention. The expansion of diffused hotels could contribute to the efforts undertaken by municipalities to contrast depopulation, with a sustainable solution for both tourists and job-seekers. By repurposing empty homes into guest houses, diffused hotels could boost the economy of the villages without altering the historical architecture dear to their residents.
Which are the best diffused hotels in Italy?
A green solution that took off after the initial pilot project and spread all around the country. In Italy, there are over 100 diffused hotels, united by the National Association of Diffused Hotels. The idea is simple: rather than welcoming guests in a centralized structure, a diffused hotel hosts its customers in rooms and apartments scattered around the town, within a 200-meter radius from the reception. This means that the tourist services blend into the landscape, often sitting right next to residents’ houses.
Northern Italy
The earliest diffused hotels were built in Friuli Venezia Giulia, so it makes sense to begin from here. Nestled right on the Alps, in the Dolomites mountain range, the Albergo Diffuso Forgaria Monte Prat is a one-of-a-kind hotel that combines the rural style of traditional chalets with awe-inspiring views of the surrounding landscapes. The structures that composed the Albergo Diffuso Forgaria Monte Prat were mostly abandoned huts set in pristine natural environments that have been refurbished to host travelers coming from all corners of Italy, and beyond. Twelve lodges and a luxurious spa form the diffused hotel. From here a network of hiking trails stretches out into the valleys and mountains of the area.
If the alpine atmosphere is not for you, Casa Burano might do the job. Located in the Venice lagoon, on the island of the same name famous for its colorful houses, Casa Burano is composed of thirteen rooms positioned in five charming houses renovated in 2016. Your days here will be busy – activities range from day trips to Torcello, where you can visit the Venetian-Byzantine mosaics of the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, to collecting wild herbs from the lagoon to use during a mixology master class.
On the opposite side of the country, in the Liguria region, we find Apricale’s Albergo Diffuso Munta e Cara, set in one of the best-preserved villages in Liguria. This one of Northern Italy’s most charming “borghi,” which has successfully managed to maintain its architectural heritage intact over the course of centuries.
Central Italy
It’s in the tiny Borgo di Raggiolo, at 2500 feet above sea level, that the diffused hotel Borgo dei Corsi sits among ancient buildings and the lush forests of the Tuscan countryside. The Casentino valley is one of the natural wonders of the region, a place where time slows down to follow the rhythm of the seasons. Lakes, castles, churches, and medieval fortresses dot the area. Borgo dei Corsi features a series of apartments recently restored using materials sourced from Tuscany in the traditional style of the village.
Vines and olive trees welcome the guests of Borgo Giusto Albergo Diffuso, located in Tuscany’s Borgo a Mozzano. Ancient farmhouses and stone exteriors characterize this space, which dates back over 400 years. The restoration of the diffused hotel began in 1995, and has brought the village back to its original glory, with the addition of a modern swimming pool. During your stay in Borgo Giusto you will have the opportunity to taste the products of the village: chestnut honey, extra virgin olive oil, wine, and a wide range of local fruits.
A 13th-century fortress hides in the green lung of Italy, nestled among hills and olive trees – it’s the Locanda del Prete, a diffused hotel in the Umbria region of Central Italy where you can experience a journey back in time by diving into the atmosphere of an ancient medieval village. The original walls and floors of the structure have been restored with great care, and 10 refined apartments are now available for visitors who reach this lesser-known corner of the country.
Southern Italy
In the rural hill town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, in the Abruzzo region, we find the incredible Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, a hotel born from the idea of an architect who wanted to provide hospitality in rooms that aim to take guests on a journey back in time. The furniture, the crockery, the lighting, and the fabrics are all designed as they used to be centuries ago, following a long process of historical research conducted with the Museum of the People of Abruzzo. The restaurant follows the same philosophy, using only local ingredients to offer old recipes that have been handed down for generations.
The Borgo Tufi diffused hotel is the result of the extensive efforts undertaken to enhance the historic center of Castel del Giudice, a community of just 311 inhabitants in the mountainous Molise region. A great base for hiking enthusiasts, Borgo Tufi sits amid apple farms and rivers, offering 33 rooms and a spa scattered around the village.
With amazing panoramic views of Taormina from its terrace and nearby citrus groves filling the air with a lemon scent, the Borgo San Rocco hotel is the ideal destination to slow down and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Sicilian coast. Thanks to a careful renovation, the old houses where the fishermen used to live have been converted into refined rooms facing the town’s historical center.
How rethinking hospitality is saving the country’s medieval villages
How many times, while walking through the narrow streets of a quaint, charming Italian village, have you wondered what the interiors of historical homes look like? Peeking through open windows is no longer necessary to satisfy your curiosity – now you can sleep in them.
Diffused hotels, known in Italian as “alberghi diffusi,” were born in the north-eastern town of Carnia, in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, as a way to repurpose the houses and villages that had been left uninhabited after the 1976 earthquake. Diffused hotels allow people who want to visit small, historical towns and villages to live in close contact with local residents, combining all the typical services offered by hotels with the comforts of a home. Many of these inns have been created with the intention of bringing abandoned structures back to life in order to revitalize the community and maintain the traditional character of the villages.
The first diffused hotel in Italy was introduced in 1982 after Tourism Management Professor Giancarlo Dall’Ara developed the idea of a hospitality solution that would offer a unique experience to travelers while helping the city recover from the damage produced by the earthquake. Since then much has changed, and diffused hotels have become an internationally recognized example of Italian hospitality, which countries like Switzerland, Croatia, and Japan are ready to emulate in the near future. The concept is simple: rather than occupying the same building or area, the rooms and apartments of diffused hotels are scattered around the village, integrated into the urban fabric, and managed by a central reception that provides guests with all the services they need. A sustainable way to expand the tourism industry, which offers the opportunity to experience Italy’s rural town from within.
A solution for Italy’s depopulation problem?
While the first “albergo diffuso” was created to allow a town to recover from a natural disaster, a more common issue could be solved with the development of diffused hotels. For years, small Italian villages known as “borghi” have suffered from depopulation. Urban centers dating back to the Middle Ages have seen their communities vanish due to the reduced opportunities and infrastructure. The lack of children has led to the closure of schools, and public transport is often limited, making it difficult for people to reach cities where most jobs are. As reported by the newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, many small municipalities have lost over half of their population over the course of the past forty years, with mountain villages like Roio del Sangro, in the Abruzzo region, or Marcetelli, in the Lazio region, where communities have decreased by up to 81%, leaving just a few hundred people behind.
Different initiatives have been tested to attract new residents to these charming but neglected villages. One of the most successful operations was the sale of houses for a symbolic price of only 1€ – a campaign picked up by the New York Times that caught international attention. The expansion of diffused hotels could contribute to the efforts undertaken by municipalities to contrast depopulation, with a sustainable solution for both tourists and job-seekers. By repurposing empty homes into guest houses, diffused hotels could boost the economy of the villages without altering the historical architecture dear to their residents.
Which are the best diffused hotels in Italy?
A green solution that took off after the initial pilot project and spread all around the country. In Italy, there are over 100 diffused hotels, united by the National Association of Diffused Hotels. The idea is simple: rather than welcoming guests in a centralized structure, a diffused hotel hosts its customers in rooms and apartments scattered around the town, within a 200-meter radius from the reception. This means that the tourist services blend into the landscape, often sitting right next to residents’ houses.
Northern Italy
The earliest diffused hotels were built in Friuli Venezia Giulia, so it makes sense to begin from here. Nestled right on the Alps, in the Dolomites mountain range, the Albergo Diffuso Forgaria Monte Prat is a one-of-a-kind hotel that combines the rural style of traditional chalets with awe-inspiring views of the surrounding landscapes. The structures that composed the Albergo Diffuso Forgaria Monte Prat were mostly abandoned huts set in pristine natural environments that have been refurbished to host travelers coming from all corners of Italy, and beyond. Twelve lodges and a luxurious spa form the diffused hotel. From here a network of hiking trails stretches out into the valleys and mountains of the area.
If the alpine atmosphere is not for you, Casa Burano might do the job. Located in the Venice lagoon, on the island of the same name famous for its colorful houses, Casa Burano is composed of thirteen rooms positioned in five charming houses renovated in 2016. Your days here will be busy – activities range from day trips to Torcello, where you can visit the Venetian-Byzantine mosaics of the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, to collecting wild herbs from the lagoon to use during a mixology master class.
On the opposite side of the country, in the Liguria region, we find Apricale’s Albergo Diffuso Munta e Cara, set in one of the best-preserved villages in Liguria. This one of Northern Italy’s most charming “borghi,” which has successfully managed to maintain its architectural heritage intact over the course of centuries.
Central Italy
It’s in the tiny Borgo di Raggiolo, at 2500 feet above sea level, that the diffused hotel Borgo dei Corsi sits among ancient buildings and the lush forests of the Tuscan countryside. The Casentino valley is one of the natural wonders of the region, a place where time slows down to follow the rhythm of the seasons. Lakes, castles, churches, and medieval fortresses dot the area. Borgo dei Corsi features a series of apartments recently restored using materials sourced from Tuscany in the traditional style of the village.
Vines and olive trees welcome the guests of Borgo Giusto Albergo Diffuso, located in Tuscany’s Borgo a Mozzano. Ancient farmhouses and stone exteriors characterize this space, which dates back over 400 years. The restoration of the diffused hotel began in 1995, and has brought the village back to its original glory, with the addition of a modern swimming pool. During your stay in Borgo Giusto you will have the opportunity to taste the products of the village: chestnut honey, extra virgin olive oil, wine, and a wide range of local fruits.
A 13th-century fortress hides in the green lung of Italy, nestled among hills and olive trees – it’s the Locanda del Prete, a diffused hotel in the Umbria region of Central Italy where you can experience a journey back in time by diving into the atmosphere of an ancient medieval village. The original walls and floors of the structure have been restored with great care, and 10 refined apartments are now available for visitors who reach this lesser-known corner of the country.
Southern Italy
In the rural hill town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, in the Abruzzo region, we find the incredible Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, a hotel born from the idea of an architect who wanted to provide hospitality in rooms that aim to take guests on a journey back in time. The furniture, the crockery, the lighting, and the fabrics are all designed as they used to be centuries ago, following a long process of historical research conducted with the Museum of the People of Abruzzo. The restaurant follows the same philosophy, using only local ingredients to offer old recipes that have been handed down for generations.
The Borgo Tufi diffused hotel is the result of the extensive efforts undertaken to enhance the historic center of Castel del Giudice, a community of just 311 inhabitants in the mountainous Molise region. A great base for hiking enthusiasts, Borgo Tufi sits amid apple farms and rivers, offering 33 rooms and a spa scattered around the village.
With amazing panoramic views of Taormina from its terrace and nearby citrus groves filling the air with a lemon scent, the Borgo San Rocco hotel is the ideal destination to slow down and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Sicilian coast. Thanks to a careful renovation, the old houses where the fishermen used to live have been converted into refined rooms facing the town’s historical center.