Provider

Associazione Nazionale Alberghi Diffusi

Description

Alberghi Diffusi: Invisible Hotels, Real Communities

Alberghi Diffusi (literally “scattered hotels”) offer a unique form of hospitality where rooms are located in separate, restored buildings within a small town or village—rather than in a single hotel structure. The model blends the privacy of independent accommodation with the services of a hotel, like reception, housekeeping, and breakfast, typically offered from a central hub.

Born in Italy after the 1976 Friuli earthquake as a way to revitalize abandoned buildings, Alberghi Diffusi has become a leading example of sustainable and regenerative tourism. Guests are immersed in the daily rhythm of local life, living among residents and contributing to the preservation of historical centres. With no need for new construction, this model respects the landscape while offering travellers an authentic, slow-paced alternative to mass tourism.

Its organizational pillars include:

• maximum distance of 200 meters between units
• integration with the local community
• centralized common services
• unified entrepreneurial management
• hotel-standard services
• separate housing units

Where / Served area: Italy

Website: www.alberghidiffusi.it

Why on TravaPowa: Alberghi Diffusi aligns closely with TravaPowa’s mission to promote community-rooted, low-impact travel that empowers local people and protects places. This hospitality model revives rural towns and historic centres, offering travellers a chance to live like a local—without displacing them.

By rehabilitating existing structures and avoiding land consumption, it helps curb overdevelopment and preserve cultural heritage. It supports sustainable tourism that:

• regenerates local economies and counters depopulation (SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth)
• protects historical and natural heritage (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
• reduces environmental impact by limiting new construction (SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production)
• fosters climate-conscious travel (SDG 13 – Climate Action)

This translates into:

• An horizontal hotel, where every house is a room. A visionary model that brings life back to small towns and offers travellers the experience of being temporary residents.
• An invisible hotel, where hospitality blends into the village’s daily life. A successful formula combining authenticity, heritage conservation, and sustainable, regenerative tourism.
• A transformative hospitality model. In the future, the Albergo Diffuso will merge tradition and technology to offer meaningful relationships and unique experiences at the heart of local communities

Take Action:  Want to enable impactful youth mobility and boost your CSR/ESG commitment on the topics of rural areas and local communities support? Get in touch with the TravaPowa team.

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© Image credit: Alberghi Diffusi. All rights reserved