Images from Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo

This small mountain borough between the Campo Imperatore plateau and the Navelli plain is included in the National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga.

In the 19th century the decadence of the ancient transhumance economy brought about the decline of the place and a massive emigration emigration. More recently this ancient town is having a renaissance, thanks to investments in tourism,of residents, encouraged by an enlightened young entrepreneur, Daniele Elow Kihlgren, who started to buy and renovate the ancient houses to establish an "albergo diffuso" (=widespread hotel) for tourists.

The photos were taken in 1999, the fine round tower built by the Medici family, destroyed in the 2009 earthquake, was rebuilt in 2021.