Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo

An ancient stone village wrapped by thick walls perches high on a hilltop in the Abruzzo mountain. Watched over by a soaring tower, the intricate maze of narrow alleys, cobbled squares and portico-lined streets that makes up Santo Stefano di Sessanio is an enduring testament to the reach and power of the Medici family, of which this Abruzzese villace once was a stronghold (despite being some 400 kilometres from Florence).