Alberghi Diffusi in Italy: what they are, how they work, and the most beautiful ones from North to South.

From Friuli to Piedmont, from Campania to Sardinia, there are already more than 100 throughout Italy. They revive abandoned villages, foster the growth of food and wine, artisan markets, and local farmers.

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Diffused Hotels in Italy: Revaluation of Abandoned Villages

We are the Italy of the villages, to use a famous definition from Censis. And it is an Italy that gives us hope for the future, for a new development model, a new and healthy economic growth. The latest strong signal comes from the abandoned villages that in many cases are being transformed into lucrative businesses.building hotelWith two characteristics: maximum attention to the territory, local characteristics, and the environment, and the combination of tourism and the sale of locally sourced artisanal and agricultural products. A true supply chain for high-quality tourism.

DIFFUSED HOTELS

Diffused hotels were born in 1982 in Carnia Based on an idea by Professor Giancarlo Dall'Ara, the project aims to revitalize homes and villages renovated after the 76 earthquake. Located in villages, comprised of several pre-existing homes, they are based on the unified management of the homes, providing traditional hotel services to their guests. They also enjoy the benefit of living in close proximity to the residents. But the truly exciting thing is that they are located in beautiful villages, given that their purpose is precisely to revitalize them. Why are they called "diffused"? Because they are developed according to a horizontal model, extending horizontally throughout the village (rooms on one side, reception a few meters away) rather than vertically like traditional hotels.

HOW A DIFFUSED HOTEL WORKS

The Albergo Diffuso, developing in small villages according to a horizontal model, creates a network between various figures, from property owners to local producers, from museums to shopkeepers. And in this way enhances, redevelops, revitalizes territories with enormous potential, without distorting them.

HOW TO OPEN A DIFFUSED HOTEL

Given that each region has local regulations, in general to open a diffused hotel you need decide what type of business to open, then notify the start of the business, the SCIAat the SUAP office in your municipality, filling out the form with the required information. The minimum number of rooms is usually seven, located in two buildings: one serving as the main facility and the other for guest accommodation. The maximum distance between the reception and the reception area is 300 meters. In this case, there's no need to construct new buildings, but rather to renovate existing ones, since this is precisely the goal of the albergo diffuso: redeveloping what's already there in the area, especially in the villages most prone to depopulation, which are in need of revitalization.

ADVANTAGES OF DIFFUSED HOTELS

By staying in a widespread hotel you can enjoy a full hotel service contributing at the same time to the valorization of small villages, respecting the environment and local sustainabilityAnd this way, you have the extraordinary opportunity to discover and experience incredibly beautiful places, even semi-unknown ones, by interacting with the residents. In short, a more sustainable way of traveling that benefits the local economy.

The benefits are not only for tourists but also for property owners and the entire village community., which are thus valorized. Local producers, shopkeepers, and even the rest of the residents have the opportunity to contribute to the offering.

ALSO READ: Village life, choose where you get paid, and not a little, to move and open a business

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SPREADED HOTELS IN ITALY (FROM NORTH TO SOUTH)

Albergo diffuso (scattered hotels) are thus multiplying, from Piedmont to Sicily, from Friuli Venezia Giulia to Basilicata. The region's potential is enormous because 72 percent of Italian municipalities have a population of fewer than 5: essentially, we are surrounded by villages.

The driving force behind these new initiatives is often women who connect the hotel industry to food and wine. "It's a far-reaching change, even though there was a lot of skepticism surrounding our initiatives at first. We're restoring life, dignity, and prospects to abandoned places, where communities had practically disappeared..." says Giancarlo Dall'Ara, president of the National Association of Diffused Hotels.

If the first experiments date back to 1994 in Sauris, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and in 1995, Bosa, Sardinia, the most famous ones currently are Sextantio, in Abruzzo, born to recover the village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, and the Civita Caves in Matera, a multi-building hotel consisting of 18 rooms located in caves. The idea came from Swedish philosopher Daniele Kihlgren, who replicated in Basilicata the multi-building hotel project successfully implemented in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of the earthquake-stricken area. And here, life has returned, and a new economic activity is giving great hope to the local youth.

We mentioned that one of the first experiments of this kind was in Sauris, in the province of Udine, where the concept of the "albergo diffuso" (diffused hotel) was inspired by hiking and mountaineering, open year-round. Here, even old mule tracks have been repurposed as natural trails.

In Tuscany, in Cinigiano, a luxurious hotel called Castel Porrona, offering elegant rooms in a medieval setting, is located nearby. Here, you can savor local specialties at the Il Chiostro restaurant, relax by the pool, or enjoy the spa.

In Campania there is nothing better than staying at the Borgo di Castelvetere sul Calore scattered hotel, which includes 17 accommodations with single and double rooms, a restaurant, a shop, conference rooms and other gems scattered throughout the streets of this charming village.

Sicily boasts the Borgo San Rocco Resort, named after the village of the same name. Here you can stay in one of the 21 rooms created in the fishermen's houses from the beginning of the century. While in The Mannois multi-building hotel is located in Orosei, Sardinia., which includes 50 rooms in historic local homes. A luxurious place to relax near the sea.

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