This November will see the unveiling of perhaps Italy’s hottest and most exciting new hotel launch of 2022. One of Milan’s most fascinating secret places is opening its doors to the world and will be home to the new luxury Portrait Milano on November 23.
The former Archiepiscopal Seminary, Europe’s oldest and the world’s second oldest seminary, was built in 1564 and commissioned by San Carlo Borromeo. Until now, it has never been open to the public. Thanks to a careful renovation project by Ferragamo-owned Lungarno Collection, entrusted to architect Michele De Lucchi and his studio AMDL CIRCLE, this amazing space in Corso Venezia 11 will become a new destination in the city that combines the values of Portrait Collection with food, fashion, design and wellness experiences, aimed at locals and visitors alike.
Beyond Francesco Maria Richini’s splendid Baroque archway, Portrait Milano has taken over the striking 3,000sqm piazza framed by a double colonnaded loggia. The first floor will house 73 rooms and suites, while the ground floor, the new Piazza del Quadrilatero, will host restaurants, boutiques and a wellness centre. The opening of this new square will connect Corso Venezia and Via S. Andrea for the first time, modifying pedestrian access through the fashion district.
The hotel
Portrait Milano’s rooms and suites will range from 32 to 165sqm, suitable for both couples and families travelling to the most vibrant city in Italy. Guests will be able to look over the rooftops of Milan, just like the locals do.
Lungarno Collection has once again collaborated with architect Michele Bonan on the interior design element of the project, after having worked with him on their other hotels; Hotel Lungarno, Portrait Roma and Portrait Firenze.
The style of the rooms at Portrait Milano is clearly inspired by the city’s salotti, living rooms, of the 1950s: the blond Italian walnut and oriental references, typical at the time, take guests back to the most glamourous houses in Milan. The boiserie on the walls, which also feature rattan panels, add texture to the simple and essential lines of the interior design. These historical references are flanked by craftmanship from Florence, the city where Lungarno Collection was born.
Guests will notice a predominance of red and green. These are complementary colours, often found in Milanese houses and deeply connected with the city and its coat of arms, composed of a red cross on a white Samnite shield and a laurel and oak branch tied together with a tricolour ribbon. The intense shade of red used in details is a tribute to San Carlo Borromeo, the cardinal who established the seminary in 1564.
Each Portrait hotel – Rome, Florence and Milan – tells a story linked to its destination. Portrait Milano will celebrate the city by recognising two special vocations that over the years it has helped to cultivate and grow: design and fashion. These are two elements that the Portrait brand is very familiar with because they are brought together perfectly in the creative genius of Salvatore Ferragamo. Portrait Milano will tell this story in its rooms and public spaces, through photographs and graphic elaborations.
Piazza del Quadrilatero
Portrait Milano has announced the carefully selected partners who will help bring this new square, Piazza del Quadrilatero, to life:
Beefbar, the Italian restaurant brand which has consistently grown abroad, in destinations including London, Paris, Hong Kong and Sao Paulo among others. The restaurant and bar on the east side of the piazza will mark the brand’s first Italian location.
Antonia, a symbol of fashion in Milan and around the world. The selection of international and emerging brands sold in the store is put together thanks to owners, Antonia Giacinti and Maurizio Purificato’s constant research. Antonia will call Piazza del Quadrilatero its new home, adding to their historic Brera location.
SO-LE STUDIO, the first flagship store for Maria Sole Ferragamo’s brand, which rescues abandoned materials, in a circular process of creativity and design, transforming them into evocative jewellery.
The Longevity Suite, an enlightened brand which promotes integrated, high-performance, high-tech protocols to guide people toward personal wellbeing through a perfect balance between health, conscious beauty, and mental energy. The Longevity Suite will manage Portrait Milano’s wellness offering.
Portrait Milano’s fine dining and casual dining will be guided by young and talented chef, Alberto Quadrio. Born in 1990 and originally from Piedmont, Alberto is faithful to traditional, authentic and evocative flavours and to the value of sharing what he learned from his family.
Leonardo Ferragamo, president at Lungarno Collection, said: “After Portrait Roma, with its 14 suites overlooking Trinità dei Monti, and Portrait Firenze, with a direct view of Ponte Vecchio, here in Milan, Portrait abandons the boutique hotel format and assumes that of an inclusive destination for the city.”
Factbox
Portrait Milano is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Rooms will be available starting from €935 per night.
Address: Corso Venezia, 11, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
Phone: +39 02 5004 3661
For further information and bookings, visit lungarnocollection.com/portrait-milano-hotel.
