Latest news with #AlbergoDiffuso
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hirado in Nagasaki Pref. Certified as World's First Albergo Diffuso Town, Developing Whole Town as One Hotel by Spreading Accommodation, Dining, Other Functions across City
HIRADO, Japan, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hirado City in Nagasaki Prefecture has obtained the official certification as "Albergo Diffuso Town" (ADT) for the first time in the world as a local municipality. With the whole town being regarded as one hotel, such functions as lodgings, restaurants, etc. are dispersed across the city. Logo and town image: Ceremony: Albergo Diffuso: A term created by combining Italian words "albergo (accommodations)" and "diffuso (dispersed)," meaning a "scattered type lodging." While an ordinary hotel houses all functions within its building, albergo diffuso has a general reception, accommodation, dining, bathing, relaxation and other functions spread across the town under the concept of "the whole town as one hotel." Guests can enjoy a deeper tourism experience by walking through the town to access these services, interact with local residents and encounter the local culture. Efforts by Hirado City: Significance and future prospect of certification With the certification, Hirado City became the world's first ADT-certified municipality. Hirado, traditionally prospering as an international trade port, is a town with a unique history and culture where Japanese and foreign cultures blend together. The city has abundant historical resources, including Hirado Castle, which launched Japan's first "Castle Stay" in April 2021, and Hirado Dutch Trading Post, which used to be the trading base of the Dutch East India Company. Hirado City will continue promoting sustainable tourism development by facilitating exchanges between locals and tourists while striving to resolve local challenges such as dealing with vacant houses and creating jobs. Related facilities -General Reception, Guest Rooms, Cafe and Souvenir Shop: "the Terrace," renovated 200-year-old rice storehouse Exterior and interior of "the Terrace": -Restaurants: "Chobotei Toranotsuki," renovated wooden building within the premises of the Matsura feudal lord of Hirado City, "Onchan," and "Isokatsu" -Lodgings: "Sumiya Heritage Hotel" (renovated facility of a late Meiji era waterborne transport broker -- the nation's registered tangible cultural property) "Jinbei Residence" (renovated facility on the former residential grounds of a high-ranking samurai of the Hirado feudal domain) To celebrate Hirado's official certification as the world's first local municipality to be recognized as an "Albergo Diffuso Town," "the Terrace" will offer a 50-percent discount on accommodation fees by June 30 as a promotion. -Campaign: Lodging Campaign for Commemoration of Albergo Diffuso Town Certification -Period: From June 1 (Sunday) to June 30 (Monday), 2025 -Campaign details: Those who make reservations in June 2025 are eligible for a 50-percent discount on accommodation fees until December 20, 2025 (excluding select periods) -Booking site: QR code: -Campaign facilities: "the Terrace Umi" and "the Terrace Yama" within "the Terrace" -Lodging type example: Maisonette with floor space of 75 square meters accommodating up to 4 people -Regular accommodation fee: JPY46,540 - JPY83,280 per night for 2 people excluding meals -Room type example: 46-square-meter bedroom with four single beds and restroom, and 28-square-meter living room with washroom, bathroom and restroom -Amenity example: Free Wi-Fi, electric kettle, LCD TV (in living room), refrigerator, Bluetooth speaker, slippers All images: View original content: SOURCE Hirado Albergo Diffuso Town PR Office Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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Travel + Leisure
08-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This Is the Smallest Village in Switzerland—and It Could Disappear Soon
Corippo, located in the scenic Verzasca Valley, was once on the verge of becoming a ghost town with only nine elderly residents remaining. But it underwent a revitalization in 2022 through the Albergo Diffuso model, turning historic structures into dispersed hotel rooms. Despite its picturesque setting in the heart of Switzerland's Southern Alps, Corippo isn't a tourist hot spot. In 2019, it was on the brink of becoming a ghost town as its population dwindled to just nine residents, all of whom were elderly. This earned Corippo the title of smallest municipality in Switzerland, prompting news headlines, as local officials scrambled to save the village from depopulation. A fairy-tale-like hamlet in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, Corippo has only one narrow road leading to it. When I visited it in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I didn't meet a single person while wandering its narrow alleyways lined with stone buildings—typical of the Verzasca Valley where it's located. In many ways, this village felt as if it was frozen in time, only a ringing clocktower bell served as a reminder of every passing hour. In 2022, Corippo became Switzerland's first Albergo Diffuso (or widespread hotel), a concept native to Italy, but still relatively new to Switzerland. Unlike in a traditional hotel, where rooms are located in one building, rooms in an Albergo Diffuso are scattered throughout historic structures in the area, allowing tourists to stay among locals and enjoy a more authentic atmosphere. The Fondazione Corippo, a local organization tasked with preserving the village, came up with the idea of Corippo Albergo Diffuso to boost the local economy after many residents left the area. The hotel rooms are located in previously abandoned buildings, which have been carefully restored to bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations. Jeremy Gehring and Désirée Voitle, managers of the Corippo Albergo Diffuso, now live in Corippo full-time with their son and twin daughters—the youngest residents of the village. 'We heard about the Albergo Diffuso in Corippo by chance on the radio and decided to apply for the management (position),' Voitle said. Today, Corippo Albergo Diffuso has 10 rooms and welcomes visitors year-round. Its cozy accommodations have rustic charm and an on-site osteria (restaurant) that serves gourmet dishes from the southern part of the Alps on a spacious terrace. The approach to cooking is Italian, but with French techniques. The summer season here kicked off during Easter weekend, and Voitle said she looks forward to welcoming visitors. 'We aim to have more return guests. Most guests checking out tell us they want to come back. Some actually do come back, so we want to have more of them,' she added. Although the project brought more tourists to the area, the village is unlikely to change because of its protected status. That's the essence of the Albergo Diffuso concept: Develop a hotel in historic structures with minimal modifications to their original appearance. Records show Corippo dates back more than 700 years, and had 315 residents at its peak in 1850. As rural agriculture declined and migration intensified in the 20th century, the population has been declining steadily. But things are starting to look up for Corippo: As Albergo Diffuso generated renewed interest, dozens of tourists flocked to this remote mountain village to see what the buzz was about. While you can spend a night in Corippo and enjoy the quiet lifestyle, the surrounding Verzasca Valley demands more time. The 25-kilometer glacial valley boasts superb outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and mountain biking. Just a quick drive from Corippo is Ponte dei Salti, a photogenic stone bridge over the Verzasca river, a popular launching point for a refreshing swim on a hot summer day. I stopped in the area as part of my road trip through Verzasca, where dozens of small villages similar to Corippo dot the postcard-worthy landscape. It's hard not to fall in love with Verzasca as you drive along the jade-colored river, cutting through the valley's heart and plunging waterfalls on each side. The area is home to emerald-hued pools, scenic trails with bright alpine flowers, and dreamy grottos—small taverns where you can try Ticino staples like polenta and risotto. Movie buffs should check out the Verzasca Dam, a major draw of the valley featured in the opening scene of "GoldenEye," part of the James Bond film series. A 220-meter bungee jump offers a chance to relive Bond's legendary move. Despite being a hub of adventure, life in Verzasca is unhurried. The valley offers a perfect blend of exciting outdoor adventures and a quiet rural lifestyle within driving distance from Lugano, the biggest city in southern Switzerland. 'We simply love the beauty of it,' Desiree said about living in Corippo. 'From here, we enjoy the natural surroundings: the changing seasons, the clear water, the fresh air, the greenery, and the calm. The quality of the elements without artifice.'
Travel + Leisure
08-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Switzerland's Smallest Village Is a Fairy Tale—and It Could Disappear Soon
Despite its picturesque setting in the heart of Switzerland's Southern Alps, Corippo isn't a tourist hot spot. In 2019, it was on the brink of becoming a ghost town as its population dwindled to just nine residents, all of whom were elderly. This earned Corippo the title of smallest municipality in Switzerland, prompting news headlines, as local officials scrambled to save the village from depopulation. A fairy-tale-like hamlet in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, Corippo has only one narrow road leading to it. When I visited it in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I didn't meet a single person while wandering its narrow alleyways lined with stone buildings—typical of the Verzasca Valley where it's located. In many ways, this village felt as if it was frozen in time, only a ringing clocktower bell served as a reminder of every passing hour. In 2022, Corippo became Switzerland's first Albergo Diffuso (or widespread hotel), a concept native to Italy, but still relatively new to Switzerland. Unlike in a traditional hotel, where rooms are located in one building, rooms in an Albergo Diffuso are scattered throughout historic structures in the area, allowing tourists to stay among locals and enjoy a more authentic atmosphere. The clock tower of the parish church and the village of Fondazione Corippo, a local organization tasked with preserving the village, came up with the idea of Corippo Albergo Diffuso to boost the local economy after many residents left the area. The hotel rooms are located in previously abandoned buildings, which have been carefully restored to bed-and-breakfast-style accommodations. Jeremy Gehring and Désirée Voitle, managers of the Corippo Albergo Diffuso, now live in Corippo full-time with their son and twin daughters—the youngest residents of the village. 'We heard about the Albergo Diffuso in Corippo by chance on the radio and decided to apply for the management (position),' Voitle said. Today, Corippo Albergo Diffuso has 10 rooms and welcomes visitors year-round. Its cozy accommodations have rustic charm and an on-site osteria (restaurant) that serves gourmet dishes from the southern part of the Alps on a spacious terrace. The approach to cooking is Italian, but with French techniques. The typical granite stone houses of Corippo. imageBROKER/The summer season here kicked off during Easter weekend, and Voitle said she looks forward to welcoming visitors. 'We aim to have more return guests. Most guests checking out tell us they want to come back. Some actually do come back, so we want to have more of them,' she added. Although the project brought more tourists to the area, the village is unlikely to change because of its protected status. That's the essence of the Albergo Diffuso concept: Develop a hotel in historic structures with minimal modifications to their original appearance. Records show Corippo dates back more than 700 years, and had 315 residents at its peak in 1850. As rural agriculture declined and migration intensified in the 20th century, the population has been declining steadily. But things are starting to look up for Corippo: As Albergo Diffuso generated renewed interest, dozens of tourists flocked to this remote mountain village to see what the buzz was about. While you can spend a night in Corippo and enjoy the quiet lifestyle, the surrounding Verzasca Valley demands more time. The 25-kilometer glacial valley boasts superb outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and mountain biking. Just a quick drive from Corippo is Ponte dei Salti, a photogenic stone bridge over the Verzasca river, a popular launching point for a refreshing swim on a hot summer day. I stopped in the area as part of my road trip through Verzasca, where dozens of small villages similar to Corippo dot the postcard-worthy landscape. It's hard not to fall in love with Verzasca as you drive along the jade-colored river, cutting through the valley's heart and plunging waterfalls on each side. The area is home to emerald-hued pools, scenic trails with bright alpine flowers, and dreamy grottos—small taverns where you can try Ticino staples like polenta and risotto. Movie buffs should check out the Verzasca Dam, a major draw of the valley featured in the opening scene of "GoldenEye," part of the James Bond film series. A 220-meter bungee jump offers a chance to relive Bond's legendary move. Despite being a hub of adventure, life in Verzasca is unhurried. The valley offers a perfect blend of exciting outdoor adventures and a quiet rural lifestyle within driving distance from Lugano, the biggest city in southern Switzerland. 'We simply love the beauty of it,' Desiree said about living in Corippo. 'From here, we enjoy the natural surroundings: the changing seasons, the clear water, the fresh air, the greenery, and the calm. The quality of the elements without artifice.'
