Villa Santa Maria, Mountain commune in Valsangro, Italy
Villa Santa Maria is a mountain village in the Sangro Valley, nestled on the southern slopes of Monte Vecchio at about 390 meters elevation. The settlement spreads along the Sangro River with stone houses and pathways that wind through the hillside terrain.
The settlement began in the eighth century when Lombard monks built a church and monastery in this location. This religious foundation became the core around which the village gradually developed over the following centuries.
The hospitality school, established in 1939, continues a strong local tradition of cooking education that shapes daily life here. The institution reflects how this community has built its identity around culinary skills and food preparation.
The village is accessible via the Val di Sangro exit on the A14 motorway, then followed by regional roads from either Chieti or Lanciano. Spring and early autumn offer the most pleasant conditions for walking through the hillside paths and exploring the town.
The town is home to Italy's first museum entirely dedicated to the history of chefs, featuring photographs and documents from the local culinary school. This unusual museum reflects how deeply this small mountain village is connected to Italian gastronomy.
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