Those visiting Castello di Casole, the Belmond hotel situated in an 18th-century castle in deepest Tuscany, would be forgiven for some confusion on approach. In amongst a picturesque view of the grounds’ vegetable garden, an oversized stroller can be spotted, complete with wheels, handles and a brightly coloured hammock-like mesh inviting passers-by of any age to take a seat. This isn’t a prank – it’s actually an artwork created by American artist Nari Ward, entitled Stallers (2013).
Visitors to the hotel will spot 17 of these giant strollers across the property, from outside one of the complex of rooms to the area devoted to stargazing beyond the pool area. They are part of a wider project called Mitico (inaugurated in 2022), which pairs Belmond’s hotels – from Sicily to Oxfordshire – with the work of different contemporary artists each year. It’s all through an alliance with Lorenzo Fiaschi, one of the founders of Galleria Continua, the gallery originally founded in the local town of San Gimignano in 1990, now with outposts from Paris to Havana.
