Skip The Museum: Artwork Abounds at Belmond Hotels

From properties with artists in residence, to suites that honor the region's most celebrated talents, these hotels speak to any art admirer.

Belmond Villa San Michele
Florence, Italy

Belmond Villa San Michele is nestled on a hilltop amid lush trees and terraced gardens, enjoying unparalleled vistas of Florence, stretched out before it in all its classic splendor. Dating from the 15th century, the Villa's facade is attributed to Michelangelo and said to be a true Renaissance work of art. To honor Michelangelo, the hotel boasts a Michelangelo Suite, the largest and most romantic accommodation on property. Guests are invited to step inside the hotel and experience the delicate beauty and solitude of a Renaissance monastery that is as much a part of Italy's culture as the country's greatest cathedrals and galleries.

Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel
Cape Town, South Africa

Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel has launched its fourth annual ‘Summer of Sculpture' Exhibition in association with the city's Everard Read Gallery. Nineteen sculptures by contemporary South African artists made of bronze, steel and stone are on display. Highlights of the exhibit include ‘Faith' by Anton Smit, which captures the powerful presence of the human form embracing faith; and ‘Tempest' by Brendan Dickerson, which depicts a bird engineered to move like a pendulum. Running until the end of April in the gardens of the iconic hotel, maps detailing each artist and their works are available from the concierge and the gallery can provide guided tours by appointment.

Belmond El Encanto
Santa Barbara, California

As a nod to the hotel's location on a monarch migration path in Santa Barbara, Belmond El Encanto's chic lobby features world famous artist Damien Hirst's ‘Psalm print: verba mea auribus.' The piece was created on a silk screen with diamond dust and is an abstract depiction of butterfly wings. The resort's art collection in general has been carefully curated to reflect the Santa Barbara landscape and regional sensibilities, and showcases pieces from such renowned artists as Yoshitomo Saito, Charles Arnoldi, and Paul Villinski.

Belmond La Résidence d'Angkor
Siem Reap, Cambodia

Belmond La Residence d'Angkor features stunning pieces of Angkor Heritage art displayed throughout the hotel. Most notably, the hotel's Khmer-style lobby is home to a large statue of Buddha that was created by one of Cambodia's finest contemporary master sculptors. The statue is carved out of 13th century wood taken from the pillars and beams of dismantled Khmer houses and greets guests upon arrival. The hotel also hosts an Eric and Thierry Stoker exhibition in its Martini Lounge, which impressively displays a sitting Buddha made entirely from eggshell and gold.

Belmond La Residencia
Mallorca, Spain

Belmond La Residencia in Mallorca offers an array of activities to help guests tap into their inner creativity. The hotel can arrange hands-on demonstrations and workshops in painting, sculpture and ceramics -- all very dominantly right brain activities. For guests with a strong interest in art and art history, the hotel also offers a "Walk and Talk Art Tour" with Cecilie Sheridan, curator of the hotel's art collection. Cecilie takes guests around the village and introduces them to local artists who have studios in Deià. Along the way, the group will receive fascinating insight into the local history and people.

Belmond Grand Hotel Europe
St Petersburg, Russia

Russia's first ever five-star hotel, Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, offers six magnificent suites including the largest presidential suite in St Petersburg and five Avant-Garde Suites inspired by 20th-century Russian artists. The Avant-Garde Suites are inspired by world-renowned artists Kazimir Malevich, Alexander Archipenko, Wassily Kandinsky, Alexander Rodchenko, and El Lissitsky. Each suite is designed to evoke the works of their namesake artists, such as Kazimir Melvich's signature striking shapes and bold colors in the Malevich Suite, and Alexander Rodchenko ‘s popular geometric shapes in the Rodchenko Suite.

Belmond Palacio Nazarenas & Belmond Hotel Monasterio
Cusco, Peru

Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, a former convent that was transformed into a magnificent hotel, has historically and religiously significant artwork restored throughout the property. The mezzanine above the 18th century church on the hotel's grounds was developed into a library specializing in the history of Peruvian art, cuisine, architecture and music, and also displays an exhibit of artifacts excavated during restorations.

While the neighboring Belmond Hotel Monasterio boasts its very own intricate art collection, steeped in history dating back to 1595. Guests won't have to travel far to soak up the local culture, as the hotel offers guided tours through the extensive collection, where an expert in religious art and Peruvian history provide details on the fascinating pieces displayed throughout the hotel.

Belmond La Samanna
St. Martin, French West Indies

Born on St. Martin, the internationally-acclaimed artist Sir Roland Richardson is the resident artist at Belmond La Samanna in St. Martin, where a stellar collection of his paintings are showcased. The permanent exhibit "Les Belles Couleurs de La Samanna" is entirely created "en plein air," inspired by the panoramic beauty of Baie Longue where the hotel is situated, as well as the hidden secrets of the gardens revealed only in their season of bloom. All artworks in this exhibit are studies of light on living subjects -- each has a unique date, time and place in the history. The exhibition features a multitude of mediums in Richardson's artwork, featured throughout the hotel.

Visit website: belmond.com