There are places in the Mediterranean where time seems to slow down, allowing light and sea breeze to dictate the rhythm of existence. Hotel Metropole Taormina is undoubtedly one of them. Perched along the historic Corso Umberto and built in 1876 on the foundations of an ancient palace belonging to the jurist and archaeologist Biagio De Spuches, this legendary Sicilian cliffside sanctuary celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. Over the past century and a half, the Metropole has been an enchanting retreat for intellectuals, artists, and global wanderers drawn to the intoxicating view over the Bay of Naxos. Today, the hotel continues its long-standing synergy with cinema, art, and culture—having served as a partner to the Taormina Film Festival for sixteen years. To mark this remarkable 150-year milestone, the hotel becomes the living canvas for Daniele Mazzoleni’s latest solo exhibition, A[MARE] – Volume II, curated by Stefania Morici and on view from July 18 through September 27, 2026.
Mazzoleni – a Milanese artist whose visual vocabulary blends the crisp spatial rigor of photorealism with the vibrant chromatic punch of Pop Art, a style defined as Human Pop –presents a series of works deeply attuned to the Mediterranean soul. Using a meticulous combination of acrylics and thick layers of two-component resin, Mazzoleni captures the aquatic realm with a striking, almost three-dimensional depth, turning each surface into a liquid window amplified by Taormina’s natural light. In Synchro Water Ballet, synchronized swimmers viewed from beneath the surface form an almost abstract choreography of reflections, movement, and suspended human grace. The iconic Aquarama pays homage to the legendary Riva speedboat, an emblem of timeless Italian design and leisure, while Claudio in Corsica depicts a vintage van facing the sea as a metaphor for road trips, freedom, and escape. Elsewhere, orderly arrays of colorful beach parasols transform coastal landscapes into essential, rhythmic compositions that evoke the serene harmony of Mediterranean summers.
Behind the sun-drenched immediacy of these scenes lies a quiet reflection on memory, nature, and our collective responsibility toward the environment. As curator Stefania Moriciemphasizes: «With this second chapter, the project takes on a new dimension. Daniele Mazzoleni’s works find a natural extension in Taormina, establishing a dialogue with a place that has inspired artists, writers, and travelers for centuries. Behind their visual immediacy lies a reflection on the relationship between humanity and landscape, between memory and the contemporary, transforming the sea into a space of encounter, beauty, and awareness.»
This cultural alignment seamlessly fits the philosophy of the location. General Manager Giuseppina Costantino notes: «The Metropole has always boasted a deep and natural connection with art, music, and cinema. Today, luxury is increasingly defined by the experiences it can offer: hosting A[MARE] means giving our guests an authentic immersion into the beauty of the Mediterranean, transforming the hotel into a narrative space where art lives, dialogues with the landscape, and contributes to making every stay a memory destined to last over time.»
In celebrating 150 years of hospitality, Hotel Metropole Taormina reaffirms its identity as a cultural destination, inviting guests to slow down, contemplate the landscape, and reconnect with the profound beauty of the sea.
Daniele Mazzoleni: A[MARE] – Volume II
Curated by Stefania Morici is on view at Hotel Metropole Taormina,
Corso Umberto 154, Taormina, until September 27, 2026.
