Palazzo Parigi Hotel, Milano

Each of us has a unique fingerprint; we each have particular travel needs which explains my outrageous travel schedule, it’s why I stay in three or four hotels in a city when I travel. I order room service, indulge at the spa, chat up all the employees and request help from the concierge service – I give a hotel a complete check–up!

My clients generally rely on my suggestion for a hotel, for over twelve years, they have trusted me to understand their desires; their, as I would describe, their particular preferences, rather than their fussiness!

My fashionista couture ladies love nightlife, swoon over hotels offering a vivacious scene, as they indeed stay out past the moon setting, and they look glamorous until the clock strikes three am! Instagram is proof of their hi-jinks!

In Milano, it’s desirable to stay within a small grid of tree canopied streets, fashionable streets for window shopping, local neighborhoods which add quiet to a stay, and within range of walking to some of the major sites. Unlike their U.S. counterparts, hotel dining is not looked down on elsewhere, thus if the hotel possesses a five star restaurant, even better.

My first stay at Palazzo Parigi Hotel was a perfect landing point after my international flight. The neighborhood is predominately residential, thus on a Sunday afternoon, it was relatively quiet for a major metropolitan city. Always a plus if in need of a nap, yet it is just a few steps away from the cultured fashion district, the trendy Brera district and Teatro alla Scala.

Newly opened, it is small, only 65 luxurious rooms and 33 suites in a sumptuous Palazzo, thus it feels like an intimate private Villa. The rooms are very spacious and bright and I had a private balcony overlooking the neighborhood garden terraces. As most Italian properties employ rolling metal shutters, you can button up your sanctuary to the heat and the night. I was particularly impressed with the stunning built in closets and drawers, sleek Italian style and the original art work in my room. Massive bathrooms, sunken tubs and separate shower and bidet. Owner-architect Paola Giambelli oversaw and designed her vision of an elegant modern environment.

A stunning bar, Cafe Parigi, which serves a dual purpose if you don’t want to dine outside in the lovely garden; they serve mid afternoon tea, breakfast and evening aperitivos in a lounge that feels like your own cozy living room, a refined elegant living room. Outfitted with comfy sofas and overstuffed chairs, a raft of newspapers, it is an inviting location to linger. And just large enough that you don’t feel like your dining neighbor is eavesdropping! Unfortunate, as I would have loved to overhear the conversation of the Russian royalty like family!

The gorgeous Gourmet Restaurant is a glass box serving traditional Italian cuisine. Although the stunning setting more resembles a contemporary theatre set… the restaurant is designed to create a real staging, with a “tunnel” glass door that obscures the arrival of the waiters and a sort of “stage” where the Chef presents guests the ultimate preparation of the dishes.

The entire hotel is tastefully adorned like a private Palazzo, with precious original works of art and antiques, a stunning marble staircase and rich woodwork, a century-old garden.

Oh, not to forget the spa and indoor pool, which opens up to an outdoor garden, adding sunlight to the indoor environment.   An authentic Turkish Hamman will open in September.

Bruno, our extremely patient and helpful concierge, also noted these hotel services:

– Dog & Cat sitting.

– Babysitting. Your children will be followed by qualified staff during your relax or shopping time.

– Personal Shopper will assist you during shopping in the best boutiques of the city.

– Yoga Lesson. In the calmness of your room, you will find the concentration for your exercises, with a trainer at your service.

– Personal Trainer. Your in & outdoor training guide.

– Tourist guide through the best Milan attractions.

I stayed again at the end of my long Journey and I have to say, it did feel like coming home – in the sense that all my needs were met, the staff welcomed me back, despite an all day conference that filled the lobby with professional types, the front desk staff made a point to seek me out amidst the group of suits! Bruno looked up to see if he could provide dinner reservations…a true sense of comfort and familiarity, yet very respectful.

Palazzo Parigi – elegant, refined comfort, intimate hotel, sun filled rooms, delicious dining, lovely garden…loved it and highly recommend. I’ll be back!ale

 

 

 

Four Seasons Milano – Bellissimo!

Milano, once revered as one of the leading cities of the renaissance is still an epicenter of fashion and design and industry and a gateway to Lake Como…in my at least nine visits to Milan, I’ve always found it a charming city. On my office walls, I have photographs of the gargoyle statues from a steep climb to the rooftop of the magnificent Duomo. Using the seemingly simple streetcar system made it very easy for me to navigate the city, this was pre-gps and despite my love of maps, I am a hopelessly map challenged explorer. My recent visit to Lecce found us wandering in circles in the moonlight, a friend who is in his office on weekends has been called several times to talk me out of a lost path, luckily I had my phone and we Google mapped our way back to our hotel, otherwise I might still be strolling Lecce!

The nearby Brera district is crammed with art galleries, small cafes and for a Catholic raised girl, seeing Da Vinci’s The Last Supper was always a treat. With the Expo last year, a Da Vinci Garden has been opened to the public, set amid the grounds of a lovely Villa; his grape stock is flourishing in the glorious garden.

The Four Seasons Hotel is a gem and if you are careful with your map, you can easily stroll to the grand Duomo and stroll the nearby cobblestone streets packed with the VV sleek and fashionable Italian shops.

An urban sanctuary, the luxurious Four Seasons Milano is housed in a dramatic 15th Century convent wrapped around a stunning cloistered courtyard garden. My enormous light filled suite with a massive walk in closet and a marble vault of bathroom overlooked the courtyard garden.

Sunset Spritz is mandatory in the garden, arranged like a large living room, with many intimate spaces to sit and observe the chic and attractive clientele, people watching at it’s best! My dear hotelier friend joined me for a traditional aperitivo and a massive array of traditional delectable bites. Despite the impending rainstorm, a smiling waiter passed by with a platter of popsicles, impeccable Four Seasons service noted!

Imagine my whirlwind three-week odyssey in the intense July Sicilian and Puglia heat; I concluded my trip with a few days in Milan and ultimately the Four Seasons spa, a refuge of serenity! The spa decorated in soothing tones, is a tasteful combination of sleek Italian design with vaulted stone ceilings. Water reflections in the softly lit indoor lap pool shimmer on the vaulted stone ceilings – generous loungers line the extended pool – it’s as quiet as a cathedral and beyond soothing – truly spa heaven!

With the hotel, we can arrange many diverse activities during your stay including:

Driving around Lake Como’s magnificent villas, ancient villages and enchanting landscapes is gratifying enough, but exploring the area from behind the wheel of a 1961 Giulietta Spider? That’s a dream come true, whether you’re a car collector or just someone who appreciates the superlative beauty of these classic Italian cars.

The Giulietta Spider, introduced by Alfa Romeo in the mid-1950s and produced for only a decade, is coveted among car lovers for its rarity, movie-star style and serious sports-car power. Now, Four Seasons Hotel Milano is putting you in the driver’s seat of this Italian icon for your very own road trip to Lake Como. Your adventure begins at the Hotel, where you’ll get the keys to this vintage roadster and be ready to hit the open road by 10:00 am. Put down the convertible top, and you and your companions can enjoy the day discovering the beautiful town of Como and its surroundings with an unobstructed view. Stop for a reserved lunch at one of the inviting restaurants near the lake, and browse the local shops before continuing your drive along the lake’s mountain-rimmed shores. Navigating this charming landscape in a car that made—and remains part of—the history of the Italian automobile industry will be an authentic experience you won’t soon forget.

OR

Breathtaking Helicopter Ride Over the Rhaetian Alps

Embark on a day tour between Switzerland and Italy, which includes the spectacular views of Lake Como, the most prestigious mountain village in the world, St. Moritz, the massive knitting mills of the Rhaetian Alps and the famous Bernina Range with its majestic peaks: Piz Bernina, Piz Roseg and Piz Palù.

This tour includes a dining stop in the famous Rifugio Marinelli Bombardieri, built in 1880, and also known as the Scerscen Refuge from the valley in which it is located. From this location at the height of 2,813 meters, a stunningly beautiful amphitheatre marks the starting point of “The Magnificent 4,000 Climbs”: Piz Bernina (4,049 meters), Piz Roseg (3,936 meters) and Peak Marinelli (3,906 meters).

Milano, Si! Four Seasons Milano, Si Si, Bellissimo!