Hotels in France and Spain join Europe’s cultural institutions with launch of immersive guest experiences
With 2023 declared as the year of Picasso in France and Spain in commemoration of 50 years of the artist’s legacy, Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort and Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel have introduced a collection of Picasso-themed experiences to showcase the life and work of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and the co-founder of Cubism.
At Anantara Villa Padierna Palace in Marbella, guests can immerse themselves in the creative world of Picasso with the new ‘Luxury Retreat: A Palatial Stay Inspired by Picasso’ – an imaginative two-night stay with spa, artful dining, and an eye-opening city tour that shines a light on the artist’s formative years and creative philosophy by exploring his origins.
The guided tour of Malaga, Picasso’s birthplace, starts with a visit to the Picasso Museum with more than 230 paintings, sculptures, drawings, graphic works, and ceramics, with other notable stops to include Plaza de la Merced where Picasso’s childhood home still stands; the church of Santiago where the great artist was baptised; Malaga City Council that houses the headquarters of the Picasso Foundation; and other sights. The tour ends at Alcazaba, a palatial Arab fortress with spectacular city views. Here, at Pimpi restaurant where young Picasso famously sketched Malaga’s ubiquitous pigeons, guests are served a delectable Picasso-themed tasting menu. Back at the resort the package also includes a blissful massage at Anantara Spa and a private dinner where every dish is a work of art inspired by the great master himself.
Having spent most of his adult life in France, the celebrated Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist and theatre designer left a large legacy in the country that gave him artistic freedom and recognition. To make it easier for art lovers to appreciate the influence Cote D’Azur had on Picasso, the recently launched Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel has launched the ‘Picasso-Inspired Path– Celebrating 50 Years of Picasso Legacy’ package combining guided tours, a hands-on workshop and a tasting of absinthe – an aromatic liquor popular with French artists and writers in the early 20th century.
The experience begins at the Romanesque chapel in Vallauris, a small town close to Nice, which is home to Picasso’s largest art piece, War and Peace, that spans over 100m2 and covers the vaults of the chapel. Afterwards, guests will travel on to The Musée Picasso, formerly the Château Grimaldi, at Antibes, built upon the foundations of the ancient Greek town of Antipolis and housing more than 245 works by Picasso from different periods of his life and work. Here, guests will also have the chance to try their hand at screen printing on Picasso’s original equipment under the guidance of Dominique Prévost, President of ‘Safranier Workshop’ art school and an expert in monoprint and engraving. The day concludes with a tour of the old town followed by an imagination-boosting absinthe tasting in a charming speakeasy.