Daniele Kihlgren, son of a Swedish industrialist, saved a nearly abandoned village in the Abruzzi region when he purchased a third of the empty houses and had them meticulously restored. Saving the soul of the place was his stated objective. Today, the guests of Albergo Diffuso are housed in 36 rooms spread throughout the village within walls bearing eloquent witness to the spartan lives of their earlier inhabitants. The bathrooms by Philippe Starck are a concession to modern convenience. Artists feel drawn by the soulful atmosphere. There is a rich cultural program with concerts and literary workshops.
