The Sextantio panorama

At Select Italy we’re very excited about the newest addition to our hotel portfolio. Sextantio Albergo Diffuso in the Abruzzo region of southeastern Italy is a fortified medieval village that has been transformed into an entirely new breed of hotel; one that encourages sustainable tourism by renovating abandoned buildings for a completely new use.

An albergo diffuso — its literal translation is “scattered hotel” — like Sextantio blows apart the traditional concept of a hotel as a distinct, block-like, vertical building usually built from scratch. Instead, Sextantio’s 42 guest rooms are scattered in multiple stone buildings throughout the existing village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. They’re also called “horizontal hotels” because their layout preserves the urban fabric of the original settlement.

Sextantio’s main structure (a restored military turret) serves as a kind of “lobby” or “reception desk” that is overseen by a single manager so that all the traditional services you'd expect from a hotel are guaranteed. There’s also a small breakfast room and an elegant restaurant serving traditional Abruzzese cuisine.

Snow-capped and beautiful Sextantio

And don’t think you have to rough it to stay here. Several million euros and five years were spent in Sextantio’s careful restoration. The guestrooms boast Philippe Starck-designed sinks and bathtubs and comfy beds — a recent visitor was none other than George Clooney who spent several nights here in mid-June when he was in the area to re-shoot scenes for his soon-to-be released movie, “The American.”

Southern Italy, and especially the province of L’Aquila in Abruzzo, which was hit by a devastating earthquake in April 2009, can certainly benefit by the spread of the albergo diffuso concept. This way the South’s unique landscapes are effectively preserved for future generations by renovating existing structures into hotels that employ local residents to run them, as well as serving local cuisine made from products grown in the area.

But even a relatively rich region like Tuscany, whose tourist vocation goes back at least a century and a half, has several alberghi diffusi. One that’s particularly well equipped is Borgo Giusto near Lucca. This medieval village was abandoned in the 1950’s but has now been converted exclusively to tourism. Guests stay in one of 28 farmhouses and villas that were once part of Soccolognora, renamed Borgo Giusto after the Giusti family, one of the village’s original inhabitants.

There’s a swimming pool and solarium, a garden with extensive paths, tennis courts, a recreation area and an in-house restaurant that serves up typical local dishes made using olive oil and wine produced on the property. Guests can choose between the Formula Residence (one week stay required during high season) or the Formula Hotel (minimum 2 night stay).

Sextantio among lush, green hills

Instead of George, this Tuscan village attracted Giacomo — composer Giacomo Puccini was born near here and was a close friend of the Giusti family. On hunting trips with the Guisti sons, he often stayed in the village in Casa di Lena and once infamously shot a hole in the roof when joking around with the brothers. The hole was discovered during the restoration to confirm that this local legend is true!

Italy is estimated to have more than 2,000 abandoned historical villages (like Borgo Giusto) and 15,000 villages where the abandonment represents more than 95% of the original population (like Santo Stefano di Sessanio which had dwindled down to 120 residents before its transformation began). Giving them new life by turning some of them into alberghi diffusi is a costly and challenging project but one that is destined to appeal to a new breed of independent traveler who is interested in local history and authentic experiences that enhance the environment instead of polluting it.

A spectacular site for a concert under the stars

One of the very best experiences Milan has to offer is to walk on the roof of the Duomo. You are whisked by elevator up to the marble terraces, 356 feet above the ground — the view is fantastic, stretching over the city to the Alps — and the atmosphere is incomparable.

Select Italy offers two different ways to experience this breathtaking trip high up in the sky. One is our Milan Made Easy package that combines the ascent to the roof with a reserved viewing of Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, "The Last Supper," and a chance to play the enthralling, interactive whaiwhai game. The second is a stand-alone ticket to the Cathedral’s Roof so you can admire the marvelous view for as long as you wish.

No less an acute observer than Mark Twain described the forest of 135 white marble pinnacles and 3,400 statues that crown the Neo-Gothic Duomo: “Away above, on the lofty roof, rank on rank of carved and fretted spires spring high in the air, and through their rich tracery one sees the sky beyond. ...(Up on) the roof...springing from its broad marble flagstones, were the long files of spires, looking very tall close at hand, but diminishing in the distance. We could see, now, that the statue on the top of each was the size of a large man, though they all looked like dolls from the street...”

"La Madonnina" is the symbol of Milan

"Looking like a doll" from below is the gilded copper statue of the Madonna, perched atop the cathedral's highest spire. Dating back to 1774, this statue is called La Madonnina, or the little Madonna, despite being almost 14 feet tall. She watches over the city and is the beloved symbol of Milan about which countless popular songs have been written. According to local tradition, no building can rise any higher than the top of La Madonnina's halo (to adhere to this rule, taller skyscrapers built in the 20th century have had to include an exact copy of the golden statue on their roofs).

Centuries of exposure to the freezing cold winters and sweltering summers of Lombardy have meant that La Madonnina and her supporting spire are badly in need of restoration. Approximately nine million euro and three years of work are needed to stabilize her but the federal funds set aside for this project have been blocked. Thus, Vivil Duomo was set up to raise money for La Madonnina's repair, and also to help fund the Duomo museums and its music school.

Spanish tenor Josè Carreras

As part of the fund raising campaign, a series of exceptional open air concerts is being held on the roof of the Duomo. Josè Carreras performed the "Misa Criolla" by Ariel Ramírez there on 9, 12 and 14 July. This folkloristic sung Mass featured Carreras's thrilling tenor voice set against a choir accompanied by typical South American instruments like charangos (a five-stringed guitar) and sikus (Pan pipes).

The 63-year old Carreras admitted how moving he found the whole experience to be. In the weeks preceding the concert, he said he exercised his celebrated vocal cords to their maximum strength so that his voice would soar over the Milanese rooftops — that way even passersby down on the ground could enjoy his celestial song.

For tickets to Andrea's Bocelli's special benefit concert to raise money for the Haitian earthquake victims that will be held in the nave of the Milan Duomo on September 30, 2010, please call Select Italy at 1-800-877-1755.

Petra Wineries state-of-the-art cellar

The love affair between power and art is an old story that has never been told better than in Italy. If it weren't for the powerful Kings, Princes, Dukes and, of course, the Catholic Church, Italy wouldn't be the country we know today. Eminent patrons of the arts such as Cardinal Borghese, Lorenzo de' Medici and Pope Julius II are among those enlightened rulers who supported the financial effort behind the creation of those artistic marvels that we currently admire in places such as the Borghese Collection, Florence or the Sistine Chapel, to name a few.

Such synergy has embraced artistic masterpieces created by artists that have become timeless iconic names (Michelangelo, for one) up to the entire art of architecture. It is to multiple generations of visionary architects that we owe the urbanist vision of the "ideal city" and the search for perfection in the geometry of St. Peter's dome or that of the Florence Duomo. All along the way, architecture has been in its own right the canvas where visionary artists have painted — with stone and marble, instead of colors — buildings, churches and entire cities. Jewels such as Urbino or Pienza are largely the legacy of geniuses named Luciano Laurana and Bernardo Rossellino, lesser known names to most of us, but nonetheless authors of spectacular achievements.

The beautiful Petra Winery complex

Nowadays, in a world mostly driven by economics, the love affair continues as ever but its passion has been adapted to new realities. In the 21st century, great architects are usually called on to create museums, airports and other complexes mostly devoted to public spaces. Yet the private sector does not sit still, and in recent years, we have witnessed state-of-the-art facilities appearing in industries where art and architecture were never a factor before.

One example is that of wineries. A new generation of cutting-edge wineries has been born in recent years, mostly in Tuscany, where industry tradition has been married to design and technology. A case in point is Rocca di Frassinello, an innovative project in the Maremma area south of Siena. There, the first joint venture between an Italian and a French wine producer (Paolo Panerai and Domain Baron De Rothschild-Lafite), has seen the complicity of the world famous architect Renzo Piano in the design of a compelling new facility developed around a spectacular, arena-like wine cellar.

Another is Petra Wineries located in Suvereto in Northern Maremma. Here owner and wine-maker, Vittorio Moretti, has asked renowned architect Mario Botta to design new cellars that would "express the passion and the commitment" of the company. Blending into the natural environment and yet assertive in style, the result is another state-of-the-art facility of great visual impact and innovation.

Ray of light illuminates the Frassinello cellar

Select Italy is happy to offer its customers a full-day excursion to these two wineries with a tasting of their wine production. We also offer, on request, a private excursion to the Angelo Gaja winery in Bolgheri, designed by Arch. Giovanni Bo, and to Antinori Vineyards in Campo di Sasso near Bibbona, designed by Gae Aulenti. For this and other exclusive Select Italy Food & Wine services, please call 1-800-877-1755.