VILLA VALSI

You will find the Residence Villa Valsi in the enchanting medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, located within the National Park of the Gran Sasso d‘Italia in the region of Abruzzo.
It is an ideal place of sojourn for anyone who loves the peace and tranquillity of the mountains and might enjoy spending time in contact with nature in a characteristic setting. Although located in the very center of Italy, this village and the Park are still little explored and uncontaminated by the crush of mass tourism.
Santo Stefano has a unique and suggestive setting where one can still breathe the magic atmosphere of once-upon-a-time…

Appartaments:
LA NOCE:
Luminous master bedroom with balcony overlooking the countryside, bathroom with shower, living room with double sofa bed, fully equipped kitchen and open fireplace.
IL LILLA':
Characteristic master bedroom with stone fireplace, large living room with double sofa bed and kitchen area , full bathroom with shower, large balcony with view.
LA LEGNAIA:
This apartment consists of one very large room overlooking the garden with fully equipped kitchen area. The bathroom has a surprising particularity. It is ideal for couples on a romantic getaway.
IL SOPPALCO:
Comfortable wooden loft with two single beds, a romantic master bedroom with balcony overlooking the village, full bathroom with shower, living room with double sofa bed and a fully equipped kitchen.
IL CAMINETTO:
Our largest apartment with access to the upper garden has a living room with ample fireplace, sofa bed and full kitchenette. A large master bedroom furnished with period furniture, a luminous second bedroom with two single beds, a full bathroom with shower.

How to find us:
from Rome, or the A1 highway from the north (Florence) or the south (Naples), you must take the A 24 highway following the indication L‘Aquila-Teramo for circa 100 km. to the L‘Aquila Est exit. From there, follow the indications for the S.S.17 for Pescara and continue circa 18 km. until you find a sign on your left indicating Barisciano. Turn left there and continue for another 8 km. to S.Stefano di Sessanio.

On the A14 highway along the Adriatic from the north (Bologna), exit at Giulianova. Follow the indications for the A 24 Teramo- L‘Aquila for circa 80 km. After passing through the long tunnel (c. 11 km.) under the Gran Sasso, exit at L‘Aquila Est. From there follow the indications for the S.S.17 for Pescara and continue circa 18 km. until you find a sign on your left indicating Barisciano. Turn left there and continue for another 8 km. to S.Stefano di Sessanio.

from Pescara, or along the Adriatic A14 highway from the south, take the exit for the A25 highway towards Roma. Exit at Bussi and then continue following the indications for Capestrano-Navelli-L‘Aquila. After circa 30 km. you will find an indication on your right for Barisciano. Turn right there and continue for another 8 km. to S.Stefano di Sessanio.
Once you get to S. Stefano, do not turn off to the right towards the village, but continue along the main road you are on and follow the indications to Calascio for circa 1 km. You will see our wooden sign for the Residence Villa Valsi on the left, directly opposite the communal tennis court, visible on the right.

Surroundings:
As enchanting as Santo Stefano is, in and of itself, the adventurous traveller wanting to see more, can take any of the roads leaving the village to find little known and magical places. These might be gifts from nature (mountains, valleys, unusual flora and fauna, spectacular views) or from man (castles and fortresses, medieval churches, ancient villages).
For those who are interested in physical activities, the area offers fantastic hiking, mountain and rock climbing, horseback riding, hang-gliding, kite flying, cross-country and downhill skiing, snow-shoeing.
Although there are innumerable places to discover around this area, here we will suggest just a few particularly interesting possibilities :

…..just 3 km. from Santo Stefano you can visit the Rocca di Calascio, which at 1500 m. above sea level is arguably the highest fortress in Europe. Built by the Piccolomini in the XV century as a watchtower to control the entire surrounding area, at least ten others fortifications are within its line of sight. Some may recognize the Castle from the film Lady Hawke starring Michelle Pfeiffer. From the top one can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the Gran Sasso.

….beginning just 2 km. above Santo Stefano is the Piana di Campo Imperatore, the largest highland plain in Europe, sometime referred to as a “little Tibet”. It stretches for circa 27 km. and reaches a maximum elevation of 2000 m., among the highest peaks in the Appennine range, including most majestically the Gran Sasso d‘Italia with its elevation of circa 3000 m.

…. At circa 10 km. from Santo Stefano one can find le grotte di Stiffe, the largest and best known of the natural caverns in the province of L‘Aquila. An underground stream of water accompanies the visitor along the entire 600 m. extension of the cave. Inside there are great cavities, swift rapids and spectacular waterfalls.

…..At 30 km. from Santo Stefano is the capital town of Abruzzo : L‘Aquila . Among the many places to visit one might recommend the National Museum of Abruzzo in the XVI century Spanish fortress, the Franciscan basilica of S. Bernardino, the church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio with its Holy Door and the tomb of Pope Celestine V, the XIII century fountain of the 99 Cannelle.