Art Hotel Atelier sul Mare :: Sicily, Italy

Art Hotel Atelier sul Mare overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of Sicily, Italy is a beautiful escape into a world of artistic imagination. With twenty rooms designed from top to bottom by international artists (and twenty additional standard rooms as those fill up quickly) you will feel as if you fell asleep inside a museum and work up in one of its paintings. They encourage boarders to spend more than one night. In this way you can enjoy several of the rooms to get a more complete feel of the hotel’s broader meaning to make you become part of the artist’s dream. As you enter you’ll smile at the small art gallery that makes up its lobby. Then the path to your room is covered with corridors and staircases that are speckled with colored rocks and cleverly painted doors forming a sharp contract to the angular black and white floor tiles.

Being so close to the water, it was the intent of the creators to incorporate a naturalistic theme into the rooms, several of which feature the ocean as their motivation. The Room of the Denied Sea by Fabrizio Plessi is covered by dozens of antique wooden doors, only one of which opens to provide a stunning view of the Mediterranean. Other ocean inspired rooms include Water Bearers and I’m Boarding a Paper Boat which is a fanciful merging of imaginary constellations, marine imagery, and dramatic lighting. In addition, there are themes involving the moon, dreams, and even pure energy; each imbuing on its residents a truly matchless experience. For a romantic, if a little quirky, experience, try The Nest room. It has a large circular white bed layered in satin which is bounded by high white walls intending to make you feel surrounded and protected by peace and luxury while stating at the bright blue sea.

The “standard” rooms are far from standard. Unlike the art rooms which are creations unto themselves, the standard rooms are like miniature galleries replete with gorgeous photography, sculpture, paintings and more. They are also comfortably furnished with full baths and stunning views of burning Italian sunsets over the watery horizon. Make a point to visit some of the local restaurants. Brimming with fresh, delicious seafood you’ll probably need to use a bit of Italian to place your order, but the food is well worth flipping through the phrase book. Wonderfully located and exceedingly unique, the Art Hotel Atelier sul Mare is a lovely Sicilian hotel that is a destination in and of itself.

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