The widespread hotels in Santo Stefano di Sessanio and Le Grotte della Civita in Matera support the Sextantio Onlus Foundation, which has developed several projects in Africa. In Rwanda with the “Mutuelle de Santé” project, Sextantio Onlus has made it possible, in 10 years, for 81 percent of the population to have access to health care by paying health insurance to families with low income.
Having health insurance means being able to undergo doctor's visits, take blood tests, and obtain medicine for common illnesses.
In 2019, the Foundation started a new project in Nkombo Island, on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo with the goal to create the concept of a diffuse hotel on the island, where men are dedicated to fishing, farming and pastoralism, while women still live in semi-slavery conditions. The project involves building Huts at the northern end of the island and opening it up to tourism so that it contributes to the economic and social development of the area, but without altering its subtle sociocultural balances. The local anthropological element constitutes the core of the tourism experience, thus very different from that offered by the typical African resort.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio is an “widespread hotel” within a fortified medieval village in the mountains of the Gran Sasso National Park, Abruzzo, at an altitude of more than 1,250 meters.
It is the result of a recovery and tourism destination project that introduced unprecedented procedures to preserve the integrity of the historic village and surrounding landscape, through specific agreements with local authorities and ethnographic research created in collaboration with the “Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo” with the goal of preserving the original aesthetic appearance. To do this, salvaged architectural materials and poor furnishings with local handicraft objects, typical of the Abruzzo mountains, were used for the renovation. The fabrics and decorations are products of local crafts, made according to ancient traditions, such as the famous woven wool blankets, wrought iron objects and even candles.
The widespread hotel consists of 30 accommodations of 4 different types including rooms and suites, distributed in several houses in the village. Completely renovated, they maintain the rustic style and are elegantly furnished with old-fashioned furniture. The dining experience is also based on Abruzzo's gastronomic tradition: the menu at both restaurants, Il Cantinone and La Locanda sotto gli Archi, features dishes made with genuine local products.
During the stay, classes in typical Abruzzese cooking, baking and pastry making can be organized to learn the art of bread, fresh pasta and homemade desserts. Weaving and soap making classes recount the secret techniques that were handed down from mother to daughter to make typical woollen blankets and fragrant natural soaps. Trekking, horseback riding, picnics and gastronomic itineraries, with meals in nearby starred restaurants, round out Santo Stefano's offerings for an authentic and different vacation.
