Antonio Presti closes Atelier sul Mare in Castel di Tusa after 33 years

The Museo Albergo Atelier sul Mare, a unique art hotel in Castel di Tusa, Sicily, has permanently closed. Founder Antonio Presti announced the cessation of activities on July 14, 2023, exactly 33 years after its opening on May 20, 1990. The hotel, designed entirely by artists, had been a cultural landmark. Presti cited bureaucratic harassment, mafia threats, and community silence as reasons for the closure. He described the situation as an 'omicidio' (murder) of the project, stating that locals benefited from his work for 40 years but remained silent when he faced difficulties. Presti plans to relocate his artistic vision elsewhere. The closure marks the end of a pioneering art hospitality venture that had been a symbol of contemporary art in Sicily.