Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a fortified medieval village tucked within the mountains of Abruzzo, but for decades, it was a ghost town.  Poverty, a lack of jobs and earthquakes triggered Italy’s rural exodus and created many ghost towns — like Santo Stefano — that have stood dormant and frozen in time.

That is, until now. Italian entrepreneur Daniele Kihlgren has launched a new concept that is breathing new life into stone-carved towns. It’s called an “albergo diffuso,” where hotel rooms are scattered through empty villages to create sprawling hotels.