Log cabins and traditional stone houses make the Sauris Diffuse Hotel a unique place.
A diffuse hotel is a new way of conceiving the vacation environment. Imagine diving into nature, in an entirely different atmosphere from daily routine, where stillness, peace and the sounds of the woods surround a breathtaking panorama.
One of the goals of the Sauris Diffuse Hotel project is to put guests into direct contact with the surrounding environment, and so allow them to fully appreciate the local culture and history, without giving up the comforts that only a contemporary hotel can offer.
Thanks to the way everything is organized, visitors can interact with the residents and live the local traditions and customs. Welcoming apartments of different sizes (from 2 to 8 beds) await you in the various sections of the town, some of which have been created in finely renovated log cabins (stavoli), in harmony with the tradition and the village in which they are placed, and created to offer the best living space.
What are the stávoli of Sauris? What is their origin?
The stavoli are a peculiarity of the Sauris Diffuse Hotel, i.e., ancient constructions typical of the Carnia region and of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Alpine territory.
The etymology of the word also reveals its purpose. Stavolo comes from the Latin word stabulum , i.e., “stable” as well as “den” and “dwelling”. In fact, this structure was used in the past to accommodate flocks in case of need. Oftentimes, in the area of origin, it is also called “Sbont” or “Sbeintle” and it is customary to find a creek or a well nearby.
If at first glance they may look like traditional stone houses, what really sets them apart is their original purpose, as well as the material they are made of. This structure usually includes two storeys, the lower one being made of stone and the upper one of wood. This was built using the old “block bau” technique: logs or beams are overlapped longitudinally to form walls, and fastened to each other at the angles. As previously mentioned, in ancient times the first storey was used as an animal shelter and the upper floor to accommodate the shepherd; today, the stavoli accommodate anyone wishing to stay in a place that has a story to tell and that shows the signs of its past legacy.
Stone houses in Sauris: an architecture in harmony with health and nature
The historical heritage of this place however is not limited to the stavoli. The Sauris Diffuse Hotel also offers lodges realized in traditional stone houses, with peculiar characteristics unchanged by time. A typical stone house has a square plan and a pavilion roof, and is built with a single material. Stone houses are more recent than the stávoli; in the 1800s, they were used to host priests, notaries and sacristans: illustrious people who needed to stay in a place that well befitted their social position and was comfortable all year round.
Apart from its beauty, an interesting characteristic of a stone house is the fact that it was built with one single material, which, even in the face of harsh atmospheric agents, preserves its extraordinary characteristics of resistance, compactness and durability. Moreover, stone is fire-resistant, hygienic and non-toxic: a material in harmony with nature and human health.
A magical place awaits you: book your stay at the Sauris Diffuse Hotel
At the heart of the Sauris Diffuse Hotel, in Borgo San Lorenzo, you will find the first apartments created in the old log cabins (stávoli) and a reception ready to welcome you, fulfill your requests and offer you some advice on things to do during your stay.
You may then go on and explore Sauris di Sopra, Sauris di Sotto, Lateis and La Maina, the three suburbs where the lodges are located. The Sauris Diffuse Hotel offers a wide range of accommodations, namely, Stávoli, stone houses and newly built facilities with a traditional style: the hotel offers all kinds of comfort, and the possibility to get to know some of the 400 residents in Sauris and plunge into a magical, really human-sized place.
Moreover, craftwork, food specialties, breath-taking landscapes, sports for all seasons, health and wellness await you at the Sauris Diffuse Hotel, where tradition meets modernity, offering a unique experience, every season, all year round.
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