Hospitals are stressful enough for adults, but for children, they can be downright scary.
Being surrounded by sterile walls and strange machines is enough to make anyone wish for the comforts of home. But thanks to Silvio Irilli, these clinical environments are transforming into magical safe havens!
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The Italian artist has spent the last seven years painting murals inside 12 hospitals as part of his Ospedali Dipinti (or painted hospitals) project.
“I love transforming hospital wards into emotional environments because the patient is not just a patient, but above all a person,” he said. “Every work I create must interact with the children, telling them a story so that their therapy path becomes a game.”
From underwater landscapes to cute cartoon critters, we can’t get enough of Silvio’s masterpieces! Check out our favorite 20 below.
1. What was once a small corner is now a fantasy world full of animal friends!
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2. A stroll through this hall gives a gorgeous peek into an underwater paradise.
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3. A patient’s room? More like the inside of a submarine!
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4. Of course, no submarine is complete without a control system!
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5. Who knew you could find an enchanted forest in a hospital?
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6. “For children in the corridor of the Regina Margherita hospital in Turin, it is always spring.”
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7. The radiotherapy room of Rome’s Policlinico Gemelli hospital is now the Villa Adriana.
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8. Welcome to Monaldi Hospital – or should we say aquarium!
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9. “The baby pit stop we painted in the hospital of Collegno, a corner reserved for mothers to breastfeed their baby.”
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10. “An island in the pediatric radiotherapy department of the Salerno hospital? Yes … to bring colors, smiles, and put fear away!”
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11. These adorable painted pups are out of this world!
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12. With friendly dolphins around every corner, there’s no reason to be frightened in this hospital!
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13. “The Garden of Dreams.”
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14. Silvio also works his magic on hospital play areas, making it “as if the little patients were in a park, in the open air together with many friends, embraced by nature.”
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15. It’s incredible what a difference a nice view can make.
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16. Many adventures await young cancer patients on the “Island of Treasures.”
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17. The difference here is night and day.
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18. Sure, the old version was cute, but the upgrade blows it out of the park!
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19. From drab walls to a breathtaking sea of wonder.
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20. With rooms as fun as these, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear young patients are happy to visit!
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What a beautiful way to comfort people while they’re experiencing hard times! You can find more of Silvio’s work on Instagram or his website.
Bring a smile to someone’s face by sharing these magical creations today.
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