The Art Inside Villa Firenze: A Collector’s Look at What’s on the Walls

Costa Rica

July 31, 2026
Key Takeaways
  • Villa Firenze was designed by architect Nancy Rojas de Roman, with an Italian-influenced courtyard layout at its center. 
  • The collection features works by Dale Chihuly, Isidro Con Wong, Gerardo Vargas Lara, and Javier Rossel. 
  • Furniture, woodwork, and architectural details function as craftsmanship in their own right. 
  • The design draws from Costa Rica as a whole rather than one specific region. 
  • Guests staying long enough tend to notice details a standard luxury rental simply wouldn’t include. 

Most luxury villa content talks about square footage and amenities. Bedroom counts, pool dimensions, and the usual checklist. Rarely does it mention what’s actually hanging on the walls or how the interior design was actually put together. 

Villa Firenze’s collection brings together Costa Rican and international artists across painting, sculpture, glass, and realism, giving the interiors an identity beyond conventional villa decor. 

This is a closer look at the artists, architecture, and design details that give Villa Firenze its distinctive interior character. 

The art doesn’t announce itself. Neither does the taste behind it. 

A Villa Built Like a Home 

There’s no matching furniture set here; no anonymous prints ordered by the dozen for a chain of identical rooms. Villa Firenze’s architecture follows an Italian-influenced courtyard layout, built from natural materials, with an interior design aesthetic that reads as considered rather than assembled. 

Architect Nancy Rojas de Roman designed the house, shaping the courtyard structure that everything else in the villa is built around. 

Art Piece Typical Luxury Rental Villa Firenze 
Furniture Matched sets, ordered in bulk Individually chosen pieces 
Wall art Mass-produced prints Works by named artists 
Design point of view Built to please everyone Built around a specific taste 
Feel over time Pleasant, forgettable Noticed a little more each day 

For the full story of how the property came together, our piece on the history and architecture of Villa Firenze covers the building itself in more depth. 

What’s on the Walls of the Villa  

The walls hold real names. A few pieces are worth pointing out directly. 

Dale Chihuly 

Dale Chihuly brings an international dimension to the collection. The American glass sculptor is known for his work in blown glass, a medium he has helped elevate into large-scale contemporary art. 

Isidro Con Wong 

Isidro Con Wong brings the collection closer to home. Born in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, he is a Costa Rican painter and sculptor of Chinese origin, giving the collection a direct connection to the province Villa Firenze calls home. 

Gerardo Vargas Lara 

Gerardo Vargas Lara represents another Costa Rican voice within the collection. His practice spans both painting and sculpture, adding to the mix of artistic mediums represented inside the villa. 

Javier Rossel 

Javier Rossel, a Swiss-Argentinian realist artist, is known for wildlife paintings on canvas. His presence extends the collection beyond Costa Rica while maintaining a connection to the natural world.  

Together, the names reveal a collection that moves between Costa Rican and international perspectives, painting, sculpture, glass, realism, and different cultural backgrounds. 

Wide shot of a room where art, architecture, and natural light combine

The Craftsmanship Beyond the Art 

The visual character of Villa Firenze extends beyond the works associated with named artists. Furniture, woodwork, textiles, architectural detailing, and the courtyard itself all contribute to how the interiors are experienced. 

Architect Nancy Rojas de Roman designed the house around its Italian-influenced courtyard structure. That architectural framework gives the art and interiors a setting with a distinct identity of its own. 

Rather than separating architecture, interiors, and art into individual features, Villa Firenze brings them together as parts of the same environment. 

Italian-influenced courtyard structure.

Why Curated Design Matters for a Private Stay 

Large hotels often need an interior language that works consistently across many rooms and many types of guests. A private villa has more freedom to develop a distinct visual identity, and Villa Firenze’s combination of architecture, art, and interior details gives it exactly that. 

The distinction becomes visible in the details.  

Works by Costa Rican and international artists sit within an Italian-influenced architectural setting, while furniture, woodwork, textiles, and architectural detailing contribute to the villa’s broader visual character. 

These elements give guests more to discover than a conventional luxury interior designed primarily around furnishings and amenities.  

Our behind-the-scenes look at how Villa Firenze actually runs touches on some of this same attention to detail from the operational side. 

Handcrafted furniture piece

Costa Rican and International Influences Under One Roof 

Villa Firenze’s design isn’t tied to one specific Costa Rican region. Instead, its influences reflect Costa Rica more broadly while sitting alongside the villa’s Italian-influenced architecture. 

The art collection follows the same pattern. Costa Rican artists Isidro Con Wong and Gerardo Vargas Lara appear alongside international artists Dale Chihuly and Javier Rossel, bringing local and international perspectives into the same setting. 

For more on what defines this category, our page on luxury villas in Costa Rica covers the broader landscape this piece sits within. 

A suite interior showing curated art placement

Worth Staying Long Enough to Notice 

Villa Firenze reveals another side of itself through its art and design. Beyond the architecture and amenities is a collection shaped by Costa Rican and international artists, giving guests something more to discover as they move through the villa. 

Come see what’s on the walls for yourself. 

FAQs 

What style of architecture does Villa Firenze feature?
The villa follows an Italian-influenced courtyard design, built around natural materials and an open layout. Architect Nancy Rojas de Roman designed the property, shaping the courtyard structure that anchors the rest of the home.
Is the art inside Villa Firenze made by local Costa Rican artists?
Villa Firenze's collection includes both Costa Rican and international artists. Costa Rican artists represented include Isidro Con Wong, a Puntarenas-born painter and sculptor, and Gerardo Vargas Lara, while international artists include Dale Chihuly and Javier Rossel.
What makes a luxury villa's interior design different from a resort's?
A private luxury villa has more freedom to develop an individual design identity than a large resort, where interiors often need to remain consistent across many rooms. At Villa Firenze, architecture, works by named artists, furniture, woodwork, and other interior details contribute to the property's distinct visual character.
Does Villa Firenze's design reflect Costa Rican or international influences?
Villa Firenze reflects both Costa Rican and international influences. Its architecture follows an Italian-influenced courtyard design, while its collection includes Costa Rican artists Isidro Con Wong and Gerardo Vargas Lara alongside international artists Dale Chihuly and Javier Rossel.
Can guests see Villa Firenze's art collection during their stay?
Villa Firenze's art forms part of the villa's interiors, allowing guests to encounter the collection as part of their stay. Artists represented include Dale Chihuly, Isidro Con Wong, Gerardo Vargas Lara, and Javier Rossel, alongside the property's architectural and interior details.

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