La Locanda sul Lago — Restaurant in Santo Stefano di Sessanio

Words are hard to express the gratitude that we felt for the staff at the La Locanda Sul Lago. The environment when we first arrived was warm and welcoming as we were tired, wet, and cold from traveling in the rain. The rooms were pleasant and clean. The breakfast was prompt and delicious as well. The true service of the staff, at this fine establishment, was upon our departure. We were to take a bus back down to L'Aquila as we had taken the bus up to this quaint mountain town. Apparently in the 2 nights we were there, the road was closed for buses and we had no way down the mountain. We did not learn this until we waited for our bus and an older woman told us of our predicament. We walked back to the La Locanda Sul Lago not knowing how to get down the mountain or if the bus could pick us up in another spot. The staff called around and after getting off the phone offered to take 4 of us and our gear down to L'Aquila. This obviously goes above and beyond the expectations of any place to stay. This action alone was worth the 5 stars, but the ambiance of the whole place was a perfect get away form the hustle and bustle of other parts of Italy. I would definitely...

Words are hard to express the gratitude that we felt for the staff at the La Locanda Sul Lago. The environment when we first arrived was warm and welcoming as we were tired, wet, and cold from traveling in the rain. The rooms were pleasant and clean. The breakfast was prompt and delicious as well. The true service of the staff, at this fine establishment, was upon our departure. We were to take a bus back down to L'Aquila as we had taken the bus up to this quaint mountain town. Apparently in the 2 nights we were there, the road was closed for buses and we had no way down the mountain. We did not learn this until we waited for our bus and an older woman told us of our predicament. We walked back to the La Locanda Sul Lago not knowing how to get down the mountain or if the bus could pick us up in another spot. The staff called around and after getting off the phone offered to take 4 of us and our gear down to L'Aquila. This obviously goes above and beyond the expectations of any place to stay. This action alone was worth the 5 stars, but the ambiance of the whole place was a perfect get away form the hustle and bustle of other parts of Italy. I would definitely...

La Locanda perfectly fits the definition of idyllic - it is a happy, peaceful and picturesque place, located a short walk from the small, medieval town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. My wife and I spent our first 4 nights in Italy at La Locanda and hated to leave. The setting is gorgeous, surrounded by the mountains of the Gran Sasso National Park in Abruzzo. We were warmly greeted by Michael, who took great care of us during our stay. This small hotel has an excellent restaurant, and we enjoyed several marvelous meals prepared by Chef Eduardo. Our room was large, comfortable and clean; breakfast each morning was generous. This is not a luxurious place in the material sense, but it is definitely so in the graciousness and beauty which we found in the people, the food and the countryside. We discovered La Locanda through Abruzzo1, which organizes outstanding cooking, photography and driving...