Turning Abandoned Hamlets Into Luxury Destinations
Photo Credit: Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita is an albergo diffuso located in the Sassi di Matera — a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Italy's Basilicata region. Sextantio
Skift Take
Wineries and agriturismo accommodations have long drawn travelers to the Italian countryside. But a more recent development is bringing travelers to Italy's once-abandoned hamlets. Other countries are taking note.
Luxury Travel News
The Skift New Luxury column is our weekly column focused on the business of selling luxury travel, the people and companies creating and selling experiences, emerging trends, and the changing consumer habits around the sector.
A growing phenomenon that has been percolating in Italy for the past 20 years offers the kind of authentic experience many of today's travelers seek. Even before Airbnb existed, the albergo diffuso concept has provided visitors with a way to live like a local. Often translated as scattered hotel, this model's fundamental principle is to restore abandoned buildings in ancient villages and repurpose them as tourist lodgings. The concept allows travelers to embed within the community — without overwhelming its residents.
There are currently 200 places calling themselves alberghi diffusi (the plural form) in Italy, but the Associazione Nazionale di Alberghi Diffusi only recognizes 100 of those.
In recent years, the albergo diffuso model has started to spread b
