Cool Hotel

WHERE THE ART IS

Villa Lena, in the Tuscan hills near Florence, Italy, is a hotel that doubles up as a residency for creatives. All sorts of artistic types — from textile makers to photographers to writers to singers — can do a month-long residency on the property in exchange for adding some creative flair to the guest experience.

The artists live in the main house, a 19th-century villa in the centre of the 200ha grounds. Guests stay in various farm buildings, which have been converted to apartments spread about the property.

During their residency, the artists are expected to give performances or workshops to guests, contribute to the running of the estate, such as by picking grapes in the vineyard, and to ultimately leave a piece of their work to be exhibited at the hotel after they depart.

Double rooms from à165, including breakfast and dinner. ● villa-lena.it ● L S.