Locanda al Colle, Tuscany – Set in stone
A stone’s throw or two from the Carrara marble quarries near Pietrasanta lies Locanda al Colle, where art shapes the very spirit of the house. It was the surrounding landscape that first drew it here, and the boutique hotel carries that inspiration forward, as if it were an atelier set gently within the Tuscan hills.
Pure white. Timeless. For centuries, it has held within it a longing for form – the very marble that captivated Michelangelo, in which he could already envision the sculpture waiting to emerge. In the quarries of Carrara, these precious blocks have been hewn from the mountains for generations. Today, those drawn to the same awe-inspiring beauty can explore the quarries alongside Swiss sculptor Maja Thommen and even experience the thrill of shaping the stone with their own hands.
The figure was already hidden within the raw stone. My task was only to remove what was superfluous.
Michelangelo
Maja Thommen, who has a close connection to Locanda al Colle, lives and works near Pietrasanta – a town renowned as an intellectual hub for sculpture and marble craftsmanship. In addition to numerous galleries, it is home to the Museo dei Bozzetti, which houses 700 contemporary plaster models of sculptures by more than 350 international artists.
Not far away, this artistic spirit flows from the town all the way to Locanda al Colle. Here, amidst gentle hills, olive groves, and centuries-old gardens, Riccardo ensures that art continues to thrive.
There are no traditional exhibitions here. Locanda al Colle lives and breathes art. Many works are brought into the house, purchased by guests, and replaced with new ones. It’s a living, natural process, involving artists such as Sebastian Bianco, Claudia Gama, Daniele Guidugli, Max Lamb, Libero Maggini, Paul Mercier and Maja Thommen.
Other pieces – including sculptures, photographs, vases, lamps, and paintings – Riccardo has collected over the years. They hold a permanent place in his heart, as well as in the Locanda.
The exhibition spaces must harmonize with their surroundings. That’s why I consider not only form, but also material and color. The selection of artists usually arises from encounters and a personal intuition – sometimes I discover them, sometimes they find me.
Riccardo Barsottelli
Locanda al Colle is a member of Lifestylehotels
