The 17th-century Villa Gamberaia near Florence becomes a residency for contemporary artists. Interview with curator Emanuela Mazzonis

Villa Gamberaia, a 17th-century villa near Florence, has launched its first artist residency program titled "Un palcoscenico nella natura" (A Stage in Nature), curated by Emanuela Mazzonis. The inaugural edition, which began in April 2026, centers on the theme of water as a symbol of nourishment, rebirth, and transformation, and hosts two artists from different generations: Claudia Passeri (born 1977, Luxembourg) and Federica Belli (born 1998, Italy). The residency aims to revive the villa's historical role as a meeting place for artists, writers, and intellectuals, which flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries under Princess Ghyka, who transformed the garden into an innovative water parterre.

This initiative matters because it reconnects a historically significant cultural site with contemporary artistic practice, creating a dialogue between the villa's rich heritage and new creative visions. By inviting artists to live and work on site for three weeks, the residency fosters site-specific works that engage with the villa's gardens and interiors, potentially building a collection that bridges past and present. It also continues the legacy of Villa Gamberaia as a hub for cross-disciplinary exchange, echoing its storied past as a gathering place for figures like Edith Wharton, Bernard Berenson, and Gabriele D'Annunzio.