Whether through food, trade or culture, Italy and the Arab world have long been connected. For nearly 200 years, Arabs ruled the southern island of Sicily in the 9th century, leaving an indelible mark on language and architecture. And during modern times, visual artists from the region flocked to major cities like Rome and Florence to study art. That cultural Arab-Italian connection continues to this day, particularly in an unlikely place on the coastline of Tuscany.
Since its official opening in May 2024, La Serena Hotel in the quaint seaside town of Forte dei Marmi has set up a one-of-a-kind artist residency programme, inviting emerging artists from the Middle East and North Africa to create art at the manicured property. The chic boutique hotel, which has been newly renovated, is owned by Palestinian gallerist Maliha Tabari and her husband, who works in real estate, purchasing the 1970s-built hotel after the COVID-19 pandemic.