Collection n.10

W e are in the heart of M ilan ’ s M ost M odern area , P iazza G ae a ulenti , a circular P odiu M that sits 6 M etres above street level t he square is surrounded by astonishin G buildin G s t he M ost i MP ressive is the u nicredit t o W er co MP lex , the tallest skyscra P er in i taly , standin G at 231 M etres tall ( P h . J ulien r ocheblave )

i t see M s like so M ethin G fro M the future , but it is a Patent fro M 1947! f ro M the W indo W of his f lorentine Palazzo , s alvatore f erraG a M o observes a fisher M an on the banks of the a rno and invents the ‘ invisible sandal ’. t he fishin G line , that ’ s the idea . “ i took a lon G nylon thread , t W isted it and W ra PP ed it around a ‘ scul P ted ’ heel , like the stern of a stea M er .” s o , W ith a sandal that looks like a P iece of architecture , that year he Won the n ei M an M arcus a Ward , the fashion o scar , and it Was aWarded to a shoe desi G ner for the first ti M e

t he P anton c hair by d anish desi G ner

v erner P anton is the first P lastic chair

W ith a cantilever desi G n , and M ade W ith J ust once P iece t he first sketches date back to 1960, but P anton could not find anyone

W illin G to P roduce such a difficult P ro J ect .

M any years later W hen the son of v itra ’ s founder , r olf f ehlbau M , saW it , he called in a v itra technician , M anfred d iebold , strai G ht aWay . W ithout P anton ( the G enius ), r olf ( the co MPany ) and M anfred ( the ar M ) the P anton c hair Would never have beco M e a reality

M ore than 1,000 P lant s P ecies fro M all over the World M ake u P the M aster P iece of this G reen island in the centre of M ilan i t is the b rera

b otanical G arden , W hich Was ori G inally founded as a J esuit M editation and cultivation centre . i n the 18 th century , it beca M e a b otanical

G arden offerin G advanced scientific education

W here M edicinal s P ecies could be studied W ithin its Walls t oday it is a university M useu M

W here biodiversity is P rotected and ad M ission is free to all ( P h . G iulio b oe M )

i t is the larG est G othic church in the World , and the reli G ious buildin G that houses the larG est nu M ber of statues : no less than 3400, in addition to 135 s P ires and 70 other fi G ures . t he extravaG ant M ilan c athedral , W hich took no less than 600 years to build , a P tly reflects the creativity and a M bition of the city and , W ith its claddin G in P ink c ando G lia M arble , rises like the fili G ree of a fairytale tiara , thrillin G its observers ( P h d ario G arofalo )

d on ’ t take your M ind off the f erraG a M o d heritaG e even for a second t his is the P hiloso P hy M ichele b ö nan has ado P ted to co M e u P W ith and desi G n the interiors of all the l un G arno c ollection hotels , includin G the latest , P ortrait M ilano t his Was so M uch so that M rs W anda f erraG a M o once told hi M : “ y ou should have M et M y husband , you can ’ t believe ho W W ell you Would have G ot alon G !” ( P h . M assi M o l istri )

c ardinal f ederico b orro M eo ( cousin of the M ore fa M ous c arlo b orro M eo ), founder of the P inacoteca a M brosiana , attributed this Paintin G to none other than l eonardo di v inci , and the G irl P ortrayed Was identified for a lon G ti M e as b eatrice d ’ e ste , l udovico il M oro ’ s W ife

M ore recent studies lean toWards M ore G eneric attributions , but these controversies have not di M inished the Work ’ s a PP eal , shroudin G the s M all

Panel in an aura of M ystery ( P h n iccolò r astrelli )

HAPPY SPORT

- Fatto a mano in oro etico -

34-41

IDENTITY

Milan and design through the lens of Gilda Bojardi

42-45

HERITAGE

The history of the Milan’s former seminary by Giovanni Crostarosa Guicciardi

46-53

PERSPECTIVE

Michele De Lucchi tells his work for the sixth destination by Lungarno Collection

54-61

INSIDE

The interior design project for Portrait Milano shown by its fine author Michele Bönan

62-65

STORYTELLING

Valeriano Antonioli tells us the story that no one knows yet

TASTE

66-73

10_11

Culinary memories by chef Alberto Quadrio at the Portrait Milano’s restaurant and bar with garden and portico, open from breakfast to after dinner

74-79

MIXOLOGY EXPERIENCE

Let’s find out more about the Art of the Cocktail with Sacha Mecocci, Vincenzo Civita, Marco Colonnelli and Andrea Maugeri

80-83

BEEFBAR MILANO

The new international culinary destination in the heart of Milan’s fashion district

TIPS

86-89

PORTRAIT MILANO

90-93

PORTRAIT FIRENZE

94-97

PORTRAIT ROMA

98

PORTRAIT MANIFESTO

COLLECTION

The Lungarno Collection Magazine N.10 Issue 2023-2024

EDITOR IN CHIEF

MATTEO PARIGI BINI

CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF TERESA FAVI

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

VALERIANO ANTONIOLI

MANAGING EDITOR

CRISTINA FOGLIATTO

PUBLISHER

GRUPPO EDITORIALE

(ALEX VITTORIO LANA & MATTEO PARIGI BINI) GRUPPOEDITORIALE.COM

EDITORS

MATTEO GRAZZINI, FRANCESCA LOMBARDI, VIRGINIA MAMMOLI, MARTINA OLIVIERI

CONTENT REVIEWER

ANNALISA SIBILLO

CONTRIBUTORS

ALESSANDRO BORGHI, MICHELE BONAN, LUIGI CATERINO, GIOVANNI CROSTAROSA GUICCIARDI, MICHELE DE LUCCHI, FRANCESCA BEATRICE GAGLIARDI, FRANCESCO MORACE, FEDERICO ROSSI

PHOTOGRAPHERS

FRANCIS AMIAND, GIULIO BOEM, MARION BUTET STUDIO, MARTINO DINI, DARIO GAROFALO, GIOVANNI GASTEL, GIORGIO GIANGIULIO, MASSIMO LISTRI, NICCOLÒ RASTRELLI, JULIEN ROCHEBLAVE, VALENTINA STEFANELLI

COVER

THE ELEGANT SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY COLONNADE OF PIAZZA DEL QUADRILATERO AT CORSO VENEZIA 11, PORTRAIT MILANO

PH. JOEE WONG

ART EDITORS

MELANIA BRANCA, CLELIA GIARDINA

TRANSLATIONS

TESSA CONTICELLI, LANDOOR, THE FLORENTINE

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

ALEX VITTORIO LANA

ADVERTISING

EMANUELA MATTIOLI, ALESSANDRA NARDELLI, STEFANO PAPINI

EDITORIAL OFFICE

GRUPPO EDITORIALE SRL

VIA CRISTOFORO LANDINO, 2 - 50129 FIRENZE - ITALY PH +39.055.0498097 - REDAZIONE@GRUPPOEDITORIALE.COM

WWW.GRUPPOEDITORIALE.COM PRINT

BARONI & GORI

HOTEL LUNGARNO

Borgo San Jacopo, 14 Florence

65 rooms and suites

GALLERY HOTEL ART Vicolo dell’Oro, 5 Florence

74 rooms and suites

CONTINENTALE

Vicolo dell’Oro, 6r Florence

43 rooms and suites

PORTRAIT FIRENZE

Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, 4 Florence

37 rooms and suites

RISTORANTE BORGO SAN JACOPO

Florence

Florence-River view

gourmet experience

PORTRAIT ROMA Via Bocca di Leone, 23 Rome

14 rooms and suites

PORTRAIT MILANO

Corso Venezia, 11 Via Sant’Andrea, 10 Milan

73 rooms and suites

CAFFÈ DELL’ORO

Florence

Contemporary Italian restaurant

THE FUSION BAR & RESTAURANT

Florence

Sushi, exotic tapas & cocktail bar

PICTEAU BISTROT & BAR

Florence

Mediterranean flavours and vintage cocktails

LA TERRAZZA ROOFTOP BAR

Florence

One of the most beautiful rooftop bars in the World

10_11

BAR-RISTORANTE-GIARDINO

Milan

Contemporary style, Italian taste

Quality has been our history since 1949

Sharing beauty

W ith the P ortrait M ilano W e had the o PP ortunity to elevate our hos P itality ex P erience to a level beyond our ho P es

time the inspiration, not only to create a new Portrait, but also in making this historical monument accessible to the Milanese, was immediate, which brought us to conceiving a new, amazing, and exciting destination in its heart: The Piazza del Quadrilatero.

Since 1565, when founded by Carlo Borromeo, initially as a place where to educate future priests, it became subject to many transformations, from a military hospital to a prison for soldiers followed by many other uses, while always remaining a closed environment. My family and I are very honoured and

privileged to have had the opportunity to add a new chapter to the long history of this extraordinary location and today, following an intense and accurate restoration, the former archiepiscopal seminario has reopened to the city with a new life.

not only impeccable and personalized service but offering dwellings of timeless elegance that my family and I truly love. We aspire to enhance and highlight the unique characteristics and values of where the Portrait hotels reside, where guests may immerse themselves in that special atmosphere.

With the Portrait Milano we had the opportunity to elevate this experience to a level beyond our hopes and so very happy to share this with so many people, be it our guests, or those simply passing through the Piazza del Quadrilatero.

ph.

Miki Nakano

Leonardo Ferragamo, President of Lungarno Collection

Never give up!

Valeriano Antonioli, CEO of Lungarno Collection

A fter A ll the ch A llenges A nd eventful esc A pA des , here is the first ch A pter in our new story , p ortr A it M il A no

When Leonardo Ferragamo asked me to direct his family’s hotel portfolio, which he had founded in 1995, I had 14 moves and 30 years of intense living behind me, which had seen me go from Milan to Saint Petersburg, Los Angeles and Phoenix, with various stays in Germany and the United Kingdom along the way. From Arizona, the was ready to come back to Europe. My wife and I wanted our daughters to grow up in Italy and for them to fall for our culture and beauty. Florence was the perfect solution and Lungarno Collection was the right challenge for me; I’ve always enriched my life with new experiences, transforming whatever

I’ve happened to have in my hands. After a few years, I succeeded in assembling a fantastic team and elevating the hotels in the

the time there were four hotels in Florence and one in Rome), but it was already clear that there was the need for a top-tier brand rich in content that could be replicated and recognized in other cities. Hence, the creation of the Portrait brand in 2013. ‘Portrait’ is an encounter between two portraits: that of the guest and the host city. The pillars of its success would be a city centre location, families too) and exceptional personalized service aimed at optimizing the guests’ stay

and creating memorable experiences and opportunities.

While these ideas became reality with the conversion of Portrait Suites into Portrait Roma and the opening of Portrait Firenze, in 2014 we started to look for possible connections between Portrait and other big cities. Portrait Milano was the product of in December 2022 after nearly 10 years of Bishop’s Seminary), and opened to the public not only as a hotel, but as a piazza destined to become a hub of life and events in the heart of Milan’s fashion district. It’s a story of when reality surpasses the dream!

Atelier Parfumèide

Firenze - Pietrasanta www.parfumeide.it

friends

Francesca Beatrice Gagliardi and Federico Rossi Luigi Caterino Francesco Morace

Conscious spaces

Francesca Beatrice Gagliardi and Federico Rossi

Architecture means building a Space that can have a positive impact on those who experience it. In our architecture, the structure tracks the space, organizes the program and generates the building. Every analysis of the contest - political-economic, legislative, real estate and environmental - and begins with a dialogue that evolves during the process, as was the case for

Studio, which looks out onto the Portrait Milano courtyard. With Sole we discussed the principles that she wanted to introduce to the jewelry world, turning it into space. For her, pieces of jewelry are organisms that follow principles, such as the deformation of matter, distortion and illusion. The intention was to delve into the relationship between the display cabinets and the items on display through designing the space generated by the three-dimensional surfaces of the display cabinets themselves within which space. The wooden sub-structure of the display cabinets was crafted by Contrada degli Artigiani, a center of excellence for the social inclusion of young people who are experiencing hard social, economic and personal situations in an example of advanced and aware craftsmanship, the product of our time: a combination of manual traditions and innovative technology

F rancesca B eatrice G a G liardi and F ederico r ossi are the F ounders o F FONDAMENTA , an architecture F irm in m ilan , which mana G ed the F la G ship project F or so - le s tudio , m aria s ole F erra G amo ’ s jewelry B rand

A MILAN-BASED CRAFTSMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Jacopo Foggini, who shapes methacrylate to make free objects.

Born in Turin, Milanese by choice

AN ARCHITECTURETHEMED WALK IN THE CITY

We suggest taking a wonderful walk along via Quadronno in the fall, without forgetting to pop into the Oriana Fallaci gardens

FAVOURITE

MUSEUM IN MILAN

Fondazione Prada. An urban, multidisciplinary, experimental and educational hub. We really love the movie programming and Thomas Demand’s Processo Grottesco

A LITTLE-KNOW OR SECRET PLACE IN MILAN THAT’S DEAR TO YOU

The Mincio swimming pool designed by Pierluigi Nervi (the tailor of reinforced concrete), with its roof that leans on top of the light

ph. Mikael Olsson

The three pillars of longevity

Luigi Caterino

unavoidable process is impossible, but the passing of time can be achieved to the best of one’s possibilities. That means having as much energy as possible for business, your family and friends, and sport. It’s not about extending your life, but broadening the

this point of view, psychology plays an essential part.

The unachievable beauty and perfection models that have been recommended to us for years are frustrating. Beauty is balance, as well awareness of one’s body and its imperfections, which can certainly be improved, but not removed. Aspirations should not be aimed at being perfect; it’s more important to feel beautiful without seeking external

mental more than anything else, also third millennium. But time doesn’t entail hours for ourselves. I always recommend (and I apply this golden rule to myself too) a little daily routine: 15 minutes, but even 5 minutes or more if you can, dedicated to some me time. To meditate, do yoga or just eating a slow breakfast, something that makes you happy and that makes you think I’m the most important person for me That’s the secret.

SOMEWHERE SPECIAL

The Museo del Novecento, in the heart of Milan. It’s where I go to escape the chaos of the city and fill my eyes with beauty and art

c old , detox , awareness .

t alkin G B eauty with l ui G i c aterino , ceo o F l on G evity s uite , chosen B y p ortrait m ilano as partner F or the hotel ’ s wellness o FF er

MILAN IN A SINGLE IMAGE

The city’s skyline, changing and now resembles a mosaic with its beautiful 19thcentury buildings and contemporary skyscrapers. Tradition and innovation

LONGEVITY SUITE

Cold, detox, awareness: these are the three pillars of a method that combats inflammation, which are responsible for aging, and enables us to gain awareness and balance with ourselves and with the world

YOUR PERSONAL COCOON

My routine: working out without eating first, a cold shower and breakfast with my family. I try to reconcile selfcare with time for my loved ones. It makes me feel good

A journey to the future

Francesco Morace

twenty years ago is evaporating and we are all in danger of becoming gasbags because of social media and of being manipulated by the technocrats’ niche. What can we do? We can rediscover our humanity and emotional ability to be together and share. Which is why I am pleased to see that consumption is becoming a phenomenon in which our human characteristics are emphasized.

Tourism, meant as a shared or personal adventure, will become more and more important in people’s dreams and in the

and exclusivity will still be crucial in the future

describe as ‘more cultural’ will add to it: living in contact with nature or longing to assimilate cultures that are not dominant in order to experience pleasure and knowledge. We will pay attention to the more immersive aspect of the experience as opposed to ‘hitand-run’ tourism. We will enjoy a richer and deeper travelling experience, more engaging and authentic at the same time. Travelling will be more like a treasure hunt, making room for our passions. Even my wife and I- we have been living and working together since the day we met in college- have been dreaming of travelling around the world as soon as we are less busy… Perhaps not in 80 days, probably in a year by enjoying experiences such as the Trans-Siberian railway and by using all the means of transport possible.

F rancesco morace is considered to B e a G uru in the F ield o F sociolo G y o F consumption . with his F uture concept la B F irm , he is an expert in anticipatin G the major chan G es that in F luence the market and companies ’ choices in the medium and lon G term

WALKS IN MILAN

I love walking across neighborhoods. In mine, Porta Venezia, I walk to the Gardens where there was even a zoo once. Now it makes the ideal venue for exhibitions and events

FAVORITE WRITERS

I am a serial book reader. Above all, I love Philip K. Dick and Hugo Pratt, a true legend. The adventures of Corto Maltese, his experiences of anthropological journey, have always inspired me

THE GASSY SOCIETY

We have gone from needs to desires and then to whims, because of the wrong assumption that freedom is limitless. We are in danger of letting social media transform us into gasbags, cutting off all ties with the community. I tackle this issue in my latest book

THE FUTURE

I am not afraid of but rather of human stupidity.

(Francesco Morace, Futuro + Umano, Egea 2018)

F rancesco m orace , a n eapolitan sociolo G ist transplanted to m ilan , has B een scrutinizin G the F uture or at least tryin G to ima G ine it since 1989 ( ph v ito m aria G rattacaso / luz )

portrait milano

Milan and design through the lens of Gilda Bojardi

The history of the Milan’s former seminary by Giovanni Crostarosa Guicciardi

Michele De Lucchi tells his work for the sixth destination by Lungarno Collection

Valeriano Antonioli tells us the story that no one knows yet

Milan calls for design

Gilda Bojardi talks us through her city

Editor of Interni magazine, Gilda Bojardi had the calling to invent an event that has brought Milan to life in a celebration of design, architecture and creativity since 1990. She lives in central Brera. You’re famous all around the world as being the creator of FuoriSalone. Where did the idea come from?

It came about as an Interni event in 1990, when the September date for Salone del Mobile was moved to April. I liked the idea of coordinating and bringing together everything new that was happening in the design world. When we talk about design in Italy, everything always comes back to Milan, the true capital of this phenomenon. Is that also why FuoriSalone started here?

It’s a phenomenon that complements the established Salone del Mobile, a model that has been copied worldwide, yet one that remains unparalleled. It occupies entire parts of the city, from the usual showrooms to more distinctive places like museums and art galleries, without overlooking ‘unusual’ spaces such as workshops, depots,

C hie F edi T or o F I ntern I sin C e 1994, G ila B ojardi is also F ounder o F F uori s alone , whi C h s TarT ed experimen Tally in 1990 and is held every year in m ilan in a pril , durin G T he es Ta B lished s alone del m o B ile

disused factories, which for a whole week become exhibition districts with a huge appeal, not only for “design people”, but also for international trendsetters, designers and trade professionals.

This year, FuoriSalone can rely on another location, Portrait Milano. What makes this place so special?

It’s special because this wonderful place, which is historically, architecturally and culturally important for Milan, is part of the image of an inclusive city that’s open to the vast, spectacular and must-visit happening of FuoriSalone.

It’s the third year that we’ve used the

T ex T T eresa F avi

“F uori s alone o CC upies en T ire parT s o F T he C i T y , F rom T he usual showrooms T o more dis T in CT ive pla C es like museums and arT

G alleries , wi T hou T overlookin G ‘ unusual ’ spa C es su C h as workshops , depo T s , disused

Fa CT ories , whi C h F or a whole week B e C ome

exhi B i T ion dis T ri CT s wi T h a hu G e appeal , no T only F or desi G n people , B u T also F or in T ernaT ional T rendse TT ers , desi G ners and T rade pro F essionals ”

F uori s alone 2021 aT T he B rera B o Tani C al G arden

F uori s alone 2006, p alazzo m arino

F uori s alone 2015, u niversi T y o F m ilan

MILAN’S OUTLET JUST 15 MINUTES FROM MILAN DOWNTOWN. 150 STORES WITH UP TO 70% OFF ALL YEAR ROUND.

former bishop’s seminary in corso Venezia for FuoriSalone by Interni and this year Portrait Milano will host the Interni Design Re-Evolution exhibition

Gabriele Chiave and Controvento about evolutionary thinking that can promote better interaction between humans and the environment.

Milan’s vocation for design and fashion runs in the veins of the Ferragamo family comes through in the art project at Portrait Milano, which focuses on Salvatore Ferragamo’s patents. Is there a story that encapsulates the city’s dual vocation?

I like to remember it with the 152 granite columns that mark the double loggia in the old courtyard. They contributed towards calling “Milan, the city of columns” in Taine’s Voyage in Italie (1876). From then on, that paired

and architrave appearance has been a metaphor for the city’s dual vocation, considering the hundreds of design stores and showrooms and fashion boutiques that have emerged in the meantime.

Which area or place best embodies design?

Without a doubt, the Quadrilatero della Moda, between via Monte Napoleone and via Manzoni, San Babila and corso Monforte, as well as all the neighboring streets that changed the perception of the morphology of Milan in this blend of fashion and design.

Where in Milan do you feel the fullest sense of belonging?

Via Solferino, where I live, and the University of Milan, where I studied and which has hosted our exhibition event for FuoriSalone since 2008.

What are the main focus and what’s

new for FuoriSalone 2023?

This year, we’ll be talking about Interni Design Re-Evolution in four locations: the University of Milan, Brera Botanic Gardens, Portrait Milano (with Audi House of Progress) and Eataly Milano Smeraldo. The theme is a multitude

a project tool that can activate the necessary synergies between varied knowledge and stimulate virtuous

regenerate local area, products in a broad sense (from objects to vehicles, material inventions and fashion) and new living spaces.

Your favourite places in Milan?

Adi Design Museum, Fondazione Prada and Triennale Milano, as well as Fioraio Bianchi Caffè, Marchesi in via Monte Napoleone and Portrait Milano: each provides comfort, social settings, focus and service in a different way.

F uori s alone 2016, a rC o della p a C e

A mong the reforms propos A ls by C A rlo b orromeo during C oun C il of t rento wA s the founding of semin A ries for the edu CAtion of priests w hen he wA s A ppointed b ishop of m il A n , he devoted his energies to the founding of the semin A ry whi C h todAy houses m il A n ’ s p ortr A it

A place that leaves a mark

I was pleasantly surprised when Leonardo Ferragamo told me that he planned to bring back to life such a special building - the rooms and courtyards of the seminary on corso Venezia - by providing a new meaning to its original function as a place that welcomed and left a memorable impression on all those who stayed there. It so happened that I had just got back from a trip to Trento, the city that hosted the famous Council, which led to the construction of this monument, one of Europe’s oldest seminaries, the one that would be taken as a model to build all seminaries from then on: in the 1500s, in fact, Milanwhich would later become the city of architecture and design - already explored new directions and paths. The former archbishop’s seminary is one of those places whose extraordinary beauty is further enhanced by learning about its history. We need to go back to the years of

C A rlo b orromeo C onsidered be A uty to be A sourC e of inspir Ation . h e wA nted A building designed to A ffe C t people ’ s lives

A nd it is of gre At C omfort to know th At , A fter so m A ny C enturies , this pl AC e is b AC k to wel C oming guests A nd le Aving A n indelible m A rk on them

the Spanish rule over Milan, a period which is often overlooked but actually lasted nearly two centuries, starting from the Battle of Pavia in 1525, when Spain and the Habsburg Empire forced the French to abandon the Duchy of Milan, which they had been occupying for several decades. Milan, in fact, having lost its political autonomy in the late 1400s - with the fall of Ludovico il Moro (of the House of Sforza) who had misplaced his trust in Charles VIII, King of France - came under the

VIII and then with Louis XII and Francis I, the King who fought against and was

defeated by Charles V, King of Spain and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The ruler of the empire on which the sun never set was succeeded by his son Philip II, who governed Milan at the time when the seminary was built. While this was the geopolitical situation, that marked the advent of what was not a mere architectural project, but a new institution: the Council of Trent , held between 1545 and 1563. The response- although late in coming- to the upheaval caused by Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation. The German friar was banished from the Holy

The history of one of Europe’s oldest seminaries, today the home of Portrait Milano

Roman Empire by Charles V in 1521, Theses of Wittemberg, which led to the Reformation. While many of these theses were mere theological opinions, many others severely condemned the corruption that permeated the Catholic Church, which is why the Council had to act on both the doctrinal and disciplinary front. And that’s when Carlo Borromeo, the future Bishop of Milan and nephew of Pius IV ,

was held, came into play. He was the one whom - although he had not been ordained bishop yet and, thus, was not

IV turned to for the reforms in the Church. As the younger son in the family, he was initiated to a career in the Church - which had a more political than religious nature back then - but he was soon deeply affected by the crisis that the Church was facing and felt the urge to respond to the challenge posed by Protestantism. A response which required the involvement of the Church of Milan, which had good organizational ability, a legacy of Saint Ambrose who, before becoming Bishop

the Roman Empire. And there was no one who could be relied on more to deal with disciplinary decrees than such

Among the reforms introduced by the Council was the founding of seminaries for the education of priests. For the very

to become a priest, it was necessary to receive a college education, with a strong spiritual basis and a focus on religious culture. As soon as Borromeo was appointed Bishop of Milan at the end of the Council in 1563, he devoted his energies to the founding of a seminary and, after a short time in temporary premises, this great monument, which today houses Portrait Milano , opened its doors in 1569. Carlo Borromeo - whose family coat of arms, Humilitas, appears in many of the seminary’s spaces - took an active part in the building’s design. He planned for it to be located in a central position, near the Duomo, and yet hidden and secluded, with the windows giving onto the inner courtyard rather than onto the streets, in order for the young seminarians not to be distracted from their studies. He wanted the spaces to be large and healthy, pleasant and comfortable, and beautiful, as he considered beauty to be a source of inspiration and a formative experience in itself. The building was a place of transit, but also designed to affect people’s lives. A place where people were welcomed and educated, both intellectually and spiritually, and when they left, they would carry the memory of it with them for the rest of their lives. And it is of great comfort to know that, after so many centuries, this place is back to welcoming guests and leaving an indelible mark on them after only a few days, because of its beauty, architecture and fascinating history.

Portrait Milano

THE PAST AT A NEW PACE

We live in a country that vaunts an extraordinary wealth of history and old buildings. It almost seems like the old dominates the contemporary to the point of making us feel bridled by the past. And yet, it is the biggest opportunity we have because places linked to modern life and prospects due to a formula based on dialog with the superintendencies, city councils and permitissuing systems is an exemplary method globally. We applied this methodology to a place in Milan that will come as a surprise to many. We’re talking about a set in the famous crisscross of luxury streets between via Monte Napoleone, piazza San Babila, corso Venezia, via della Spiga and via Sant’Andrea.

In order to understand where we are and just how spectacular this place is, you need to visualize the city from above on a map. You’ll see it right there, at the very heart of the city, which is known all over the world as the Quadrilatero della Moda. It’s a majestic and impressive old palazzo, originally dating to

the Renaissance, which Charles Borromeo commissioned in the seventeenth century as the Seminary of Milan in the Church’s history. Keep your eyes on the map and you’ll realize that this same place forms an exceptionally large square with an equally square courtyard at its core. It’s a quadrilateral in the Quadrilatero! It was designed as such so that all the

face onto this wonderfully large courtyard surrounded by columns. If you look closely, you’ll also notice two peduncles, which protrude out from the large square plan towards corso Venezia and via Sant’Andrea respectively. These two entrances now allow a shortcut at last through the Quadrilatero della Moda from corso Venezia to via Sant’Andrea and have renamed this almost metaphysical stonepaved courtyard, with its silent expanse, as Piazza del Quadrilatero. Not only a surprising cut-through, but also a new gathering place for the world of fashion, the contemporary and the past.

M IC hele d e l u CC h I , w I th h I s des I gn and arC h I te C ture f I r M a M dl CI rC le , was beh I nd the restorat I on of the real estate C o M plex that now hosts p ortra I t M I lano

experiences, the success of this palazzo lies in the fact that the hotel, restaurant, bar and boutiques all look out onto the Piazza del Quadrilatero not for their own sake, but to give shape to a vibrant space, where people meet and exchange ideas in full Milanese spirit as a city that never

and in all that time I have always watched in awe at how (and how much) Milan has changed and continues to change. We are in the metropolis that best represents Italy internationally for its singular ability to absorb incredible contributions of technology and the market and turn them into new lifestyles, while maintaining the baseline of the place’s history and identity, because nobody knows how to hold the contemporary and the extraordinary centuries-old past together like the Milanesi do. Portrait Milano is the essence of this uniqueness. It’s also full of secrets because, beyond the central piazza, little courtyards and gardens still exist that escaped changes to the neighborhood and city down the centuries. The building is made up of two porticoes, one on top of the

meditation took place. The courtyard and the palazzo have witnessed extraordinary moments of history over the centuries as a war hospital, a warehouse, military barracks, a ministry, a prison and as a tram depot at night. Now, its columns, cornices, doorways and monumental staircases set an extraordinary scene as the perfect setting for 21st-century events.

When I draw this building with its arches and porticoes, I always show it full of people. I picture them as they walk through this place, not only to discover its ancient magic, but to experience contemporary living in an ancient place. That is the wonder that we can create: putting the past in touch with the present.

A magical balance

My interior design project for Portrait Milano: consistency, class and genius loci

T ex T M ichele B ö nan

Nine years ago, when I crossed the threshold of Milan’s former archbishop’s breathless.

What struck me was that this place, one of the most fascinating in the whole of the city, had remained a secret and almost forgotten for years, despite being located at the heart of such a popular and well-known neighborhood. I’m now understandably delighted that this unique building, after a huge amount of teamwork, has become the new preferred destination in town. I’ve always thought of it as a gift that Ferragamo has given to Milan and it was with this idea in mind that I designed the interiors of Portrait Milano. Where did I begin? Always with the same principle: consistency between the place, the host and the intended use. Our hosts are Ferragamo, which meant that the experience and elegance of the fashion house simply had to prevail, as well as the exceptional service, with the same welcome I experienced at the family’s own homes. My connection with the family actually dates back to both my childhood friendship with Leonardo

F loren T ine archi T ec T and in T erior designer M ichele B ö nan is renowned F or his renovaT ion and decor projec T s . F ro M privaT ely owned ho M es T o B ou T ique ho T els and even superyach T s , he B rings luxury i Talian li F es T yle T o each o F his projec T s all over T he world

and my involvement in doing the interior design for many Lungarno Collection hotels; a long-standing partnership, which began with the opening of the Hotel Lungarno in Florence in 1995 and marked my debut in the world of hospitality. Prior to that, I had worked on privately owned homes, some of which were truly extraordinary, but never on hotels. It was the cozy and private scale of my work that sparked Leonardo Ferragamo’s interest for his debut in the hotel segment. It was a leap in the dark for both of us, but that boutique hotel in step with the times began a new era for luxury hotels in Italy. That was when I started to research

Salvatore Ferragamo’s work, a genius whose story is now world-famous. In order to pay tribute to the “Shoemaker to the Stars” at this prestigious Milanese destination, I chose to tell his story

lie in the leather handles and bronzed brass on the doors, the rattan boiserie, the bathrooms mostly in pure white Carrara marble, while others vaunt a blend of porphyry (considered the stone of emperors) and Breccia Medicea, a type of marble used since Roman times, which was particularly valued in the sixteenth century because of the Medici family, hence the name.

Other elements refer to the place’s background: the library, the decision to embrace cardinal red as an iconic color and larch spaces (a humble wood reminiscent of the starkness of past seminaries) are examples of an awareness of participating in the history of this building linked to the Church, culture and hospitality, which guided my design plans. The city also played its part. Milan is

an elegant city. Every palazzo, old or modern, and every apartment block has entranceways that continue to be gloriously manicured with extreme always admired this innate style, I wanted the timeless charm of Milanese homes to be extended everywhere. In particular, it echoes through the boiserie in the rooms and suites, crafted from super smooth walnut that recalls the work of Gio Ponti and the great architects of the golden age of Milanese design.

It was no less important, however, to design a place that felt truly like a second home, welcoming and easy to live in,

as well as a mirror image of beauty, openness and cleanliness. This purpose is pursued through an invisible network of elements that, even back in the initial plans, incorporated technology, expert installation and impeccable service. Special attention, for example, has been given to

not threaten to disturb conversation among guests anywhere in the hotel, bar and restaurant. The same meticulous care was taken in selecting and positioning all the functional devices in the rooms in order to be straightforward, intuitive and readable. Concealing all the light and music sources was key to achieve the most natural effect possible. Most of the rooms look out over the upper loggia, which completely protected by subtle moveable glass shutters, allowed a private living room to be created in every room, multiplying the absolute sense of service and hospitality like in

the other hotels belonging to the group. Even more crucial is the fact that the hotel acts as a connector to the magic and almost secret garden to the rear, an enchanted haven that is accessed from the horseshoe-shaped bar between the building and the garden itself.

Lastly, a surprise was waiting in store when I discovered the striking ancient colonnade in the basement, which reminded me of the famous cisterns in Istanbul. That formed the guiding idea for the pool plans. An aqueous space hovering between sky and land, which now makes Portrait Milano one of the few hotels in central Milan that provides so much harmony between variety and movement. I have asked myself several times if harmony is actually one of the driving forces of this Milanese success story, but in all honesty, I don’t have the answer. What I do know for sure, however, is that the blend of architecture, interior

design, service, light, sound, atmosphere and service have created a welcoming place for unparalleled entertainment, culture and hospitality right here. Portrait Milano is magical, unique and exceptional.

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P edes T rian area be T ween corso

v enezia and via s an T ’ a ndrea , where T he Tailored hos P i Tali T y of T he P orT rai T brand ( es T 2013) blends sea M lessly wi T h res Tauran T s , sho PP ing , exclusive even T s and o T her ParT ners , giving T he locaT ion back To

M ilan and creaT ing a fascinaT ing culT ural and arT is T ic exchange

When you have a vision in life, you believe in it intensely and strive to achieve it, and you might even come across a healthy serendipity that determines the outcome once and for all. As a diehard optimist, I have always believed that people who have

small, yet potent, quantity of risk, sparking coincidences that become opportunities worth seizing. That’s what happening at the start of the Portrait Milano story. I had spent years viewing real estate as the perfect location for our new Portrait and the search felt endless.

One hot day in September 2013, I happened to look out of a window in a building at the heart of the Quadrilatero and noticed a sprawling, majestic palazzo, whose windows were shuttered. I wonder what it is , I thought to myself… It turns out that it was the former Bishop’s Seminary belonging to the Diocese of Milan, a beautiful and special place, which had been hidden from public view and

500-year existence. It was a shame that it wasn’t for sale and not even available for rent; most of all, they said to me, ‘It could never become a hotel’. Despite that, I just knew that it would be the perfect place we had been looking for all these years. Our President Leonardo Ferragamo had the

same incredible feeling, combined with a clear and enticing vision: to bring new life to a place that had been closed for years, reopening it to the city. From that moment on, we had meeting after meeting with the Church, the owners of the building; meetings that connected us with people of culture and extraordinary humanity and values similar to those of our company and the Ferragamo family, who became

and foremost. Humilitas is the Borromeo motto, which can be seen above the entrance in the former Seminary along Corso Venezia, as well as being carved nine times into the stone of the building’s -

our project, acting as a guiding light . Even back then, the idea was to create an inclusive (not exclusive) project. Years passed

call from Milan: “We have decided to ac -

train, ready to formalize the contract, but as soon as I arrived, I found out that we would have to take part in an international bid to be assigned with the conversion project.

For the next 2 years, we underwent a conour

100% Italian , one of the few remaining capable of developing a high-level hospitality project in our country. The second reason was because of the hospitality project we had submitted. The plans envisaged the co-existence of a private dimension for the hotel (Portrait Hotel) and an original public dimension, which turned the inner courtyard into a piazza open to locals and travellers , as well as the decision to hold events that would bring it to life and connect the square with the two thoroughfares of the Quadrilatero della Moda: corso Venezia and via Sant’Andrea. Piazza del Quadrilatero is symbolic of this inclusiveness or, as I like to call it, ‘inclusive exclusivity’ in Milan, a lively metropolis that I have always loved, the powerhouse of Italy.

This dream and vision saw Leonardo Ferragamo at the forefront and I am honoured to have been a spokesperson for the project, birthing a venture that has involved so many talented individuals , from architects to engineers, builders and visionaries , who, with us, believed in this truly incredible project.

Now this project has a name - Portrait Milano - and a form that we never imagined could be so beautiful, not even in our wildest dreams.

After all, believing is everything. Always.

d e Tails of T he for M er M ilan se M inary , which is now ho M e T o P orT rai T M ilano

taste

10_11 Milano

Mixology crossing experience

Beefbar Milano

Culinary memories

The restaurant and bar 10_11, a melting pot of flavors and people

It is a gathering place, honoring the age-old tradition of Italian hospitality: an intimate and welcoming atmosphere, the warmth of delicious steaming plates and lively conversation around the table, the restorative power of a meal prepared with love. The name says it all: 10_11 (‘Ten Eleven’). Not only, in fact, the Portrait Milano’s restaurant and bar with garden and portico is open from breakfast to after dinner, but the hotel also provides a pedestrian connection between two streets: the intimate, exclusive and elegant Via Sant’Andrea (with the entrance at street number 10) and the lively, open and inclusive Corso Venezia (with the hotel’s main entrance at street number 11). Even the interior design - the result of architect Michele Bönan’s vision and of the work of skillful Italian artisans - speaks of conviviality and comfort, as well as the service, which evokes the warmheartedness of family meals . Each course, in fact, is placed in the middle

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M ade wi T h passion and care .

of the table, allowing the guests to share: pasta is served in a tureen, meat in a pan, appetizers in small trays.

a cuisine s T yle spon Taneous , in T ui T i V e and sus Tainable which speak T o e V eryone Wellington and roast pumpkin. The young chef Alberto Quadrio , born in 1990, is at the head of the kitchen brigade.

An authentic culinary experience, in perfect Portrait style, with the human factor being the most precious ingredient of all. The menu, full of traditional Lombard dishes and much more, is the purest expression of Italian cuisine made with passion and care: dishes such as mondeghili (the typical Milanese meatballs), riso al salto (crisp saffron rice) with ossobuco sauce garnished with gremolada , vitello tonnato , beef

Piedmontese by birth, Quadrio began his career in Milan, working side by side with Gualtiero Marchesi back in the days of his Marchesino restaurant. His cuisine style is spontaneous and intuitive, but he perfectly masters culinary techniques owing to his many international working experiences, such as those with Yoshihiro Narisawa in Tokyo, Oriol Castro in Barcelona, Rasmus Kofoed at the Geranium in

e V en T he in T erior design -

T he resulT of archi T ec T M ichele

b önan ’ s V ision and of T he work of skillful i Talian arT isans - speaks of con V i V iali T y and co M forT

T he logo of 10_11 draws inspiraT ion fro M T he frieze of a shaded skyligh T oV er T he

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Towards infini T y , wi T h i T s T wo di V erging arrows , and i T see M s To represen T T he poin T where T he T wo s T ree T nu M bers 11 c orso

V enezia and 10 V ia s an T ’ a ndrea M ee T and where T he res Tauran T is locaT ed

a dyna M ic place , open fro M M orning

To nigh T , perfec T ly described by T his fascinaT ing sign ’ s elegan T in T erlace M en T

Copenhagen, as well as with Pietro Leemann, Andrea Migliaccio, Andrea

Alain Ducasse. Sustainability also lies at the core of his cuisine: as little food waste as possible and ‘heartwarming’ and ‘informal’ dishes which speak to

signature dish: La mia idea di pasta in bianco ( My idea of “pasta in bianco” ), the gourmet version of a dish which is everybody’s favorite.

Flavors bringing back memories, just like the dessert menu, curated by pastry chef Cesare Murzilli and including apple pie with vanilla sauce, Milanese-style tiramisu - with saffronAmor

polenta with custard. The two large and over 9-meterlong counters of the 10_11 Bar give onto the restaurant and the garden. The bar manager Andrea Maugeri runs this temple of mixology which celebrates the quintessential Milanese ritual, aperitivo. In addition to the classics which have made

Milan the Italian capital of aperitivo since the early 1900s, customers can try the 10_11’s signature cocktails: Ancestrali , dedicated to the former archbishop’s seminary, the cradle of the study of herbs and spices; Senza pensieri , soft alcohol-free and lowcalorie drinks; Dimenticati , traditional Italian drinks with a modern and contemporary twist, and the Coffee cocktails , prepared with select coffee, a treat served in the afternoon and in different versions according to the season, along with teas and herbal teas accompanied by cakes prepared by the in-house pastry cooks.

THE ART OF THE COCKTAIL

a boV e : s acha m ecocci , head bartender at t he f usion b ar & r estaurant in f L orence

b e L ow : a ndrea m augeri , bar

manager at the most recent addition to L ungarno c o LL ection , 10_11 in m i L an

Cocktail made to measure in elegant and exclusive locations where talent and ingenuity blend together to create unforgettable experiences. Lungarno Collection’s take on the art of mixology touches on iconic places in Florence and Milan, where the culture of drinking well

more, we met Sacha Mecocci, head bartender at The Fusion Bar & Restaurant in Florence, which vaunts an international ambience that ranges from Japan to Peru; Vincenzo Civita and Marco Colonnelli, bar supervisors at Picteau Bistrot & Bar, with extraordinary views over the River Arno and the Ponte Vecchio; and Andrea Maugeri, bar manager at the most recent addition to Lungarno Collection, the superlative 10_11 that is already occupying the limelight of the Milanese bar scene.

What’s the philosophy behind your art of mixing?

Sacha Mecocci

can be understood. We really focus on selecting products and on balancing our combinations.

Marco Colonnelli and Vincenzo Civita: We put a modern twist on the classics. Andrea Maugeri: Simplicity and keeping things local. I’d like to think that our guests want to try unique products that only Italy has to offer.

your drinks?

SM: From a photo, a story or music. We don’t restrict ourselves and we harness everything that sets our creativity alight, while staying true to our Fusion Style.

MC and VC: From the local area and traditions. Constantly researching our story and learning about the area always enhances the potential of our cocktails.

AM: From the past and also from new trends. I like to bring back old drinks and rework them with a modern twist with a new approach aimed at our guests. Tell us about your iconic cocktails?

SM: The Fusion Negroni plays a starring role, as well as two new entries Green Margarita, a new take on the Margarita, and Sonic Mary, a twist on the Bloody Mary.

MC and VC: Conte di Picche is an idea

based on a variation of the Negroni. The diversity of ingredients compared to the original totally changes the aromatics of the drink.

AM: Our Spritz 10_11 with a bittersweet

What food pairings have been developed to go with the drinks?

SM: Tapas inspired by Japan and South American, such as our bao ban, steamed buns served with house-made tofu and pork. Sushi is also really popular with refreshing drinks or a glass of sake.

MC and VC: Small plates that emphasize the ingredients in the cocktails, perhaps (sweet - sour, hot - cold).

AM: Milanese meatballs, known as mondeghili, super for sharing.

The cocktail you’re always happy to make?

SM: The Martini Cocktail, which is extremely tricky in its simplicity, and our signature Sonic Mary, a variation on the Bloody Mary, which we’re happy to make because it even delights people who aren’t fans of the classic version.

MC and VC: Both the Conte di Picche and the Cortado Martini have always been well received and see the same guests come back so that they can taste them again.

AM: I love the Giostra D’alcool, an arty cocktail inspired by Futurism. We use bitters, a Chianti-based vermouth and a citron soft drink.Then we garnish the glass with a Parmesan crust and chocolate: it’s a real revelation!

Legend has it that the Negroni was invented in Florence. What’s your take on this classic drink?

SM: The Fusion Negroni keeps the

with an exotic and oriental touch. We use Japanese gin instead of London Dry, mixed with Cynar, traditional artichokebased bitters enjoyed as an aperitif. The sweetness comes from Exotic Vermouth

puff of smoke.

MC and VC:The most traditional version, since we live in Florence, is a pride and joy that blends art and history, and allows us to share a piece of the past with our guests.

AM: The Magistris Negroni stands out on our drinks list. We use bay-infused bitters

and add body with ancestral Hippocratic wine, one of the earliest forms of vermouth. Gin completes the drink. If you were to describe Florence as a drink, what would it be? Andrea, Milan for you.

SM of Florence, Florentines and the atmosphere than the Negroni.

MC e VC: Negroni without a doubt. The ruby color conjures up the gorgeous sun-

shot of the Florentine soul.

AM: Our Ambrogino, a historic cocktail that shows off the city’s liquor making, with its Rabarbaro Zucca and Campari base.

-

V incenzo c i V ita , bar superV isor at p icteau b istrot & b ar , with extraordinary V iews oV er p onte V ecchio

m i L anese meatba LL s , known as mondeghi L i , super for sharing

e L egance and tradition at p icteau b istrot & b ar at h ote L L ungarno

As you step into the Beefbar - within the Portrait Milano Hotel - you are welcomed by a lovely dining room in the typical Milanese style of the 1940s-1960s. The open kitchen and wine cellar bring a cozy, warm atmosphere to the whole venue. Guests are seated in the middle of the room, around tables with elegant green velvet sofas along the sides. The restaurant’s vintage style, with its ornate wood-paneling and dark marbles, accompanies guests on an international culinary journey full of charm through the great capital cities of

Hong Kong, Dubai - oozes a cosmopolitan atmosphere and international charm, enhanced by dishes that break with the traditional offer.

At the helm of Beefbar Milano’s kitchen is Executive chef Thierry Paludetto, an integral part of the project from the very start, a Frenchman from Toulouse who, along with his eight corporate chefs from all over the world, works to bring out the

by

Riccardo

Giraudi, the Giraudi Group’s CEO and founder of the brand who, in 2005, started a small restaurant in Monte Carlo with a menu designed to be an approachable introduction to different meat cuts. The concept was so successful that it

or for the restaurant’s exclusive use, for a menu having both a local and international appeal. Each course is designed to be shared: the street food selection - tiraditos, ceviche and tartare - is prepared with different cooking methods, barbecued or with sauce, grilled on a Japanese robata or steamed, cooked in a wok or in tempura. The menu is quite meat-centric, but it also

a t the hel M of B eef B ar M ilano ’ s kitchen is e xecutive chef t hierry P aludetto , an integral

with an extensive and varied menu open and amazing culinary experiences. Every

pasta and wonderful vegetarian offerings. The food is accompanied by an extensive wine list, featuring wines from both wellknown wineries and small winegrowers with a special focus on Italian labels.

Part of the P roject fro M the very start , a f rench M an fro M t oulouse

tips

What’s your preference? Does style rank high among your priorities?

Choose the things to do and places to see in Milan, Florence, Rome PORTRAIT

PORTRAIT MILANO

WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT:

• It is housed in one of the oldest seminaries in Europe

• It overlooks Piazza del Quadrilatero, a 28,000 square feet, the largest public square in the Milan fashion district

• One of the Studio Deluxe Garden suites that enjoy a wonderful view of the garden

WORTH GETTING OUT OF BED FOR:

• Discover the Da Vinci’s Atlantic Code at Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

• A street photography tour in 45 minuts of walking around here

• An exclusive shopping experience along the ground floor of the property which hosts cult fashion boutiques

•EAT & DRINK

10_11 Bar Giardino Ristorante

Via Sant’Andrea 10, Milan daily-for info & reservations +39 02 3679 95850

This is the new place to be in MIlan. It includes a bar, a restaurant, a splendid garden, and the loggia facing the square. It opens all-day and serves a cuisine inspired by the tradition from Northern Italy, with authentic and emotional flavors that evoke memories and a mixology that goes back to the origins of the Milanese ritual of the aperitif

•BREAKFAST

Pasticceria Marchesi

Via Monte Napoleone 9

One of the oldest and most renowned pastry shops in Milan. It has an outpost in the fashionable Quadrilatero, just a few steps away from Portrait Milano

•SHOPPING

Antonia

Via Sant’Andrea, 10

Antonia is a real guru and trend explorer, with an eye for mixing established brands and avantgarde names. She chose Piazza del Quadrilatero as her second address in town, in addition to Palazzo Cagnola in Milan’s Brera district. Under the vaulted colonnade, awe-inspiring interiors and eye-catching visuals trigger curious collaborations with international brands, cult streetwear labels and sports powerhouses. A buzzy place for global fashionistas worldwide and local fashion-addicted alike

•ART

Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

Piazza Pio XI 2

It hosts the Da Vinci’s Atlantic Code, that displays scratches, notes, ideas personally handwritten by the most famous Italian genius. The tour includes other masterpieces such as Caravaggio’s Basket of Fruit and Raphael’s The School of Athens. Opening Hours: 10 am – 6 pm; closed on Wednesdays

P asticceria M archesi 10_11

P inacoteca a M brosiana

a ntonia

P inacoteca a M brosiana

•LUNCH

LùBar

Via Palestro 16

LùBar is hosted inside Villa Reale’s 18th century greenhouse, among climbing plants and a mirrored ceiling. It serves Mediterranean cuisine with Sicilian influences

Altatto

Via Comune Antico 15, Milan

Altatto is a vegetarian and vegan haute cuisine experience combined with a stylish wood and cement décor

•EXPERIENCE

Villa Necchi Campiglio

Via Mozart 14

It was created in the early 30’s by Piero Portaluppi, the architect who would redesign Portrait Milano’s Seminary in the 70’s. Once considered the most futuristic house in Milan, today Villa Necchi Campiglio is a discovery of history and charme. Opening Hours: 10 am – 6 pm; every day

•VINTAGE

Cavalli e Nastri

Via Brera 2

This is one of the most famous vintage shops in Milan. It is known for its unique selection of vintage clothing and accessories from 1920 to 1990

•JEWELS

SO-LE studio

Via Sant’Andrea 2

In the new piazza del Quadrilatero, it is the first Maria Sole Ferragamo’s flagship store. Here she transforms simple materials such as leather and brass into jewels and amulets

SO-LE studio

•SHOPPING

La Double J

Via Sant’Andrea 10a, Milan

La Double J is a wildly patterned shop that displays fashion icons made with archival prints, cool home design and rare vintage

•CREATIVITY

Dimorecentrale

Via G.B. Sammartini 63, Milan

The renowned Milan-based studio set up its offices, a new gallery and a bar, below the rails of the central train station, in a beautiful industrial setting

•EXPLORE

Fondazione Luigi Rovati

Corso Venezia 52

Few steps away from Portrait Milano, this museum offers a new way of seeing Italian and international art. Over 250 masterpieces will take the visitors to a journey from Etruscan Age to contemporary art, including Lucio Fontana’s cut paint, William Kentridge’s scratches and Picasso, Giacometti, De Chirico up to the king of POP art Andy Warhol. Opening Hours: 10 am – 8 pm; closed on Mondays

•OUTSIDE

Brera District

A romantic, artistic, foody and nightlife district. It’s really vibrant during the day with all the boutiques (not franchised), some with their own history. Stop at the Pinacoteca di Brera that hosts masterpieces such as the Mantegna’s Death Christ, Raphael’s The Virgin Wedding, Hayez’ The Kiss. At evening (and night) this district becomes buzzy with restaurants and cocktail bars. Walk back to hotel after a good dinner for collecting a nice memory of your visit

•DINNER

Beefbar

Corso Venezia 11 daily-for info & reservations +39 02 500 37 500

As the first Beefbar opening in Italy, Beefbar brings to Milano its famous world’s best meats through popular recipes and a cosmopolitan selection of street food, tiraditos, ceviche and tartare. Its atmosphere recalls the style of a creative city with hints to opera, fashion and design

F ondazione L uigi r ovati

b rera d istrict

b ee F bar

L a d oub L e J

PORTRAIT FIRENZE

WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT:

• Breath-taking views of the river Arno and Florence

• A spectacular rooftop suite and 273m2 Penthouse Floor

• A private gallery with photos of Hollywood stars and royalty, as you’ve never seen them before

WORTH GETTING OUT OF BED FOR:

• Discover the Bargello Museum with your kids

• A street photography tour with an internationally-renowned photographer and Leica expert

• An exclusive shopping experience at the Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques in Florence

•CRAFTS

Fratelli Traversari

Via Senese 68b

An artisan company now in its fourth generation: Fratelli Traversari is one of the few workshops that is keeping up with its tradition of craftsmanship which dates back to the end of the 19th century. Its speciality is Florentine commesso mosaic in semi-precious stones, an art that was highly prized by the Medici during the Renaissance and is still in use today in a few rare workshops like this one

•BREAKFAST

Picteau Bistrot & Bar

Hotel Lungarno, Borgo San Jacopo 14 daily-for info & reservations

+39 055 2726 4997

Few tables available with reservations required to enjoy a unique front row view of the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno river, to be admired just as if you were cruising on a boat

•WELLNESS

White Iris Beauty Spa

Hotel Continentale, Vicolo Dell’Oro 6r daily-for info & reservations

+39 055 27265966

The White Iris Comfort Zone Spa in Florence is a wellness oasis in the heart of the city. The centre offers a wide range of treatments and massages based on natural active ingredients and state-of-the-art high-tech molecules. Don’t miss the special foot treatment to honour Salvatore Ferragamo’s passion for feet

•SCENERY

La Terrazza

Hotel Continentale, Vicolo dell’Oro 6r daily-for info & reservations

+39 055 27265987

One of the best aperitifs in Florence combined with one of the most beautiful views of the city. Is there anything better? Open daily from 3pm to 9pm

P icteau B istrot & B ar

F ratelli t raversari

l a t errazza

•LUNCH

Caffè dell’Oro

Lungarno Acciaiuoli 4 daily-for info & reservations

+39 055 2726 8912

Enjoy a delicious salad prepared with ‘farm to table’ ingredients at a charming outdoor table overlooking Ponte Vecchio

•EXPERIENCE

Tuscany Vip Service

Via Luigi Salvatore Cherubini 20 Rent Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Maseratis and all the most prestigious brands of luxury cars.

Classic rentals for one or more days can be organised or you can have a guided tour in an exclusive sports car! What could be more Italian than admiring the hills and vineyards of Chianti in a Ferrari?

•INTERIOR

Flair

Lungarno Corsini 24r

This is a special place, where the research of a natural approach that is far from the hyper-decorative and the overly used rigors of contemporary design. Aesthetic concepts mingle in the artisanal form of noble materials contrasted with dream-like references

•SHOPPING

Angela Caputi Giuggiù Via Santo Spirito 58r

The coloured Bakelite bijoux that Florentine designer Angela Caputi began to create in her exclusive ‘workshop’ in Florence 50 years ago are inspired by Hollywood cinema from the first half of the 20th century

•EAT & DRINK

The Fusion Bar

Vicolo dell’Oro 3

WhatsApp Reservations

+39 342 1234710

A Florentine institution, a place of worship for mixology enthusiasts, thanks to the talented bartenders. The bar counter, true pulse of the Fusion, interacts with the innovative cuisine, able to seduce international travellers and the most demanding locals

•UNIQUE

Private dinner in historic tower

Historic center of San Gimignano, Siena

For the most demanding guests of Portrait Firenze, they can book an elegant and exclusive dinner on the terrace of the Palazzo Chigi tower. The marvellous place is surrounded by towers, whilst the excellent professionalism of the chefs and the careful selection of wines contribute to a unique and magical moment with an atmosphere of a thousand and one nights. It is also possible to organise a private harp concert during dinner. Perfect for romantic proposals

•THEATRE

Teatro della Pergola

Via della Pergola 12-32

It is the first great example of Italianstyle theatre. You can take guided tours or go to the seasonal sessions.

A fun fact: Antonio Meucci installed an acoustic tube on the stage that still exists, which allowed people to speak through the trellis and under the stage. It is considered the telephone’s ancestor

•DINNER

Borgo San Jacopo

Borgo San Jacopo 62 daily-for info & reservations +39 055 281661

The Star of Florence by the River Arno. Chef Claudio Mengoni offers creative dishes that are the synthesis of a long culinary journey. The restaurant captures the unique flavours of Italian cuisine using high quality ingredients. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 7pm to 10pm

•MUSIC

Gilò pianobar

Via dei Fossi 44r

Gilò is a club with many souls: you can go there for a nice cocktail before or after dinner or to eat something good in a very nice, Art Deco-style environment with live music

t he F usion B ar

g ilò P iano B ar

t eatro della P ergola

PORTRAIT ROMA

WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT:

• Stunning location next to the Spanish Steps

• Only 14 suites and a spectacular rooftop terrace

• A lifestyle team at your complete disposal that creates bespoke and unusual experiences for our clients such as a two-hour adventure in a stylish golf cart

WORTH GETTING OUT OF BED FOR:

• Breakfast with a stunning view

• Wellness: jogging trails and bike routes

• Private museum tours and cooking classes

• Personalized assistance from the reception for the organization of your stay in Rome

•DESIGN

TripleF

Via delle Mantellate 15

TripleF in Trastevere, the vintage concept created by Federica Formilli Fendi. In a loft that was once the studio of iconic 1960s artists (Schifano, De Dominicis), furnishings, accessories and objects purchased from around the world can be found on display: 1940s vases, handbags from the grandmother who loved Roberta di Camerino velvet, Manolo shoes that evoke the New York of Sex and the City, jackets right out of the 1970s, trolleys, unusual lamps, mirrors, dining tables, Mackintosh chairs

•BREAKFAST

Babington’s Tea Rooms

Piazza di Spagna 23

Sumptuous chandeliers, fine drapery and a typically British atmosphere. Even at breakfast time you can sit down and choose from more than 30 types of tea and blends from around the world, enjoying them in all their glory with scones, muffins, cakes and pastries, all of which is strictly punctual!

•WALKING

Monti district

In the city center, roughly between the Colosseum and Termini station

If you are in search of the most authentic artisan Rome, go to Via dei Banchi Vecchi and the many streets of the Monti district. This area is a treasure trove of hangout alleys where it is nice to get lost. Shop windows of young designer entrepreneurs with a lot of drive are cropping up alongside the historic workshops more and more often

•CHIC

Chez Dédé

Via di Monserrato 35

A journey into the world of Daria and Andrea, a couple in life and work; together they imagine, design and create objects. French music, soft lighting, velvet sofas, tea cups and porcelain plates, lifestyle magazines and vintage books, accessories, such as les grandes sacs, large canvas bags for carrying around town or taking to the beach. Chez Dédé has only one must: to make you feel at home. In short, it is more than a boutique or concept store; it is an authentic and unforgettable experience

B a B ington ’ s t ea R ooms

C hez D é D é

C hez D é D é

•SHOPPING

Sophie Habsburg

Via degli Orsini 35

From this splendid Roman shop, Sophie de Habsburg’s handbags (she is a direct descendant of one of Europe’s most important families) reached European royal circles. Her creations are appreciated by many women, aristocratic and not so, who want a handbag with personality, high craftsmanship, but without the hefty price tag

•PIZZA

Antico Forno Roscioli

Via dei Chiavari 34

Near Campo de’ Fiori are Forno Roscioli’s extremely thin pizzas, cut with a decisive knife stroke. The queue is a mile long, but it is worth it. And in the meantime, new friendships are made

•PARK

Villa Borghese Park

Piazzale Napoleone I

An immense and special place in the heart of the city where you can go off in search of absolute beauty; bars where you can enjoy the seasons such as the Casina del Lago and the Caffè delle Arti; Piazza di Siena that transforms itself into a gym or living room several times during the same day; the Valle dei Cani with its centuries-old plane trees planted by Scipione Borghese

Latteria Giuliani

Borgo Pio 48

The historic Latteria Giuliani has been in Borgo Pio since 1912. It has a vintage marble counter and a wooden icebox bought by Alessandro’s grandfather (the current owner) when he opened the restaurant. Today everyone knows it as ‘the dairy’ and the marble counter is still there and on the wall are some photos of dad and granddad. Popes, cardinals, actors have all passed through here... There are tables outside and it is a charming place for a chat and coffee

V illa B o Rghese

•MUSEUM

Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea

Viale delle Belle Arti 131

It is also known as the ‘golden mile’ of foreign academies. Visits never really cut it. In addition to the temporary exhibitions, the historicised works are endlessly fascinating. The entrance steps are a stage where you can stop and admire the changing light on the Villa Borghese skyline as the tram passes by

•CHURCH

Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi

Piazza di S. Luigi de’ Francesi

In the Church of San Luigi de’ Francesi, Caravaggio’s La vocazione di San Matteo is a masterpiece of 17th century painting, where every figure is a character and every gesture is told by light

•MARKET

Borghetto Flaminio flea and vintage market

Piazza della Marin, 32

The Borghetto Flaminio market, the chic Sunday ‘garage sale’ that is just a stone’s throw from Piazza del Popolo, where people hunt for designer objects and vintage jewellery pieces. In front of and behind the counter are some local and international well-known faces who decided to play at junk dealers for a hobby

•VIEW

Villa del Priorato di Malta

Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta 4

It is always exciting at the Aventine to ‘spy’ on the dome of St Peter’s through the lock of the gate of the Priory of the Knights of Malta. There are 3 states in one glance: The Sovereign Order of Malta, Italy and the Vatican City

•DRINK

Honour Bar

Portrait Roma Via Bocca di Leone 23 daily-for info & reservations

+39 06 69380742

Step up to Hotel Portrait Roma’s panoramic rooftop bar, the Honour Bar, where you can sip on a cocktail, a coffee, a glass of wine from the best Italian wineries, a whiskey or a glass of champagne in front of one of the most beautiful views over the rooftops of Rome

PORTRAIT MANIFESTO

Some clever ideas transpire by chance, or even by mistake, and then there are ingenious choices we make strategically to overcome obstacles. That’s how the essence of Portrait came about in Rome in 2006, a result of the determination to vanquish incompatible architectural limits, according to traditional standards, with a 5-star hotel. A discreet entrance, almost like a private dwelling, the absence of a lobby or shared areas, apart from a small lounge on the first floor, and a gorgeous terrace on the seventh floor, ensured the success of this first address.

After all, the art of hospitality is what makes a memorable experience. The perfect recipe consists of 50% destination and 50% the human factor, as well as all the intangible elements of an experience which makes a real difference, and which makes any place a special somewhere you always want to return to

PORTRAIT aims to put in contact the portrait of the city with the portrait of the guest, creating a virtuous encounter between the beauty of its surroundings and the personality of the individual, couple or family who come to visit us, their tastes and preferences , and where we seek to care for and cultivate the meaning and motivations of their travels, with the desire in having our guests feeling fulfilled and leaving with indelible, beautiful, and happy memories.

This is the Portrait, and this is its mission.