Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a 16th century village on the edge of the Campo Imperatore plain in the Gran Sasso National Park. The "borgo" is listed as one of Italy's most beautiful  hamlet and it's truly an architectural delight with its archways, cobbled streets, Medici square, narrow alleys and stone houses, many dating back to the 15th century.

Six miles from the ancient Roman Peltinum (hence the ‘Sessanio’ part), and a strategic crossroads for the commercial route between Rome and the Adriatic coast at the height of the Roman Empire, Santo Stefano flourished under the Medicis in the 16th century. Agriculture became the major factor in the economic development of the area, with the process of transhumance being utilized to take advantage of the region’s geography.

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The village now boasts many splendid shops where one can purchase locally produced honey and jam, salamis, and pecorinos, as well as the region’s famous lentils. Local food prepared  to traditional recipes is available from a few local restaurants