Gran Meliá Set to Conquer Milan with Palazzo Cordusio Opening
Gran Meliá ushers in a new era with the opening of Palazzo Cordusio, a flagship property residing within an icon of nineteenth century Italian design, this month. Providing a gateway to Milan’s rich culture and iconic landmarks, the hotel is set to become the city’s new gourmet hotspot and social hub thanks to the partnership with the leading international company Sunset Hospitality Group, boasting globally inspired fine dining concepts and an unmatched central location.
Palazzo Cordusio, A Gran Meliá hotel, is primely positioned in Piazza Cordusio, one of the city’s most iconic squares. The luxury hotel is housed within the historic Palazzo Venezia – jewel of the Assicurazioni Generali heritage and for over a century the company’s Milanese headquarters – and marks Gran Meliá’s Milanese debut, joining its Italian sister property in Rome, Villa Agrippina.
As the second Gran Meliá hotel, and fourth luxury property in Italy, the opening of Palazzo Cordusio further strengthens Meliá Hotels International’s presence in the destination as a key player in the luxury hospitality segment.
Timeless Design
Originally constructed between 1897 and 1901 by Generali, Palazzo Venezia’s eclectic design sought inspiration from the architect Luca Beltrami, and played a pivotal role in the restoration of the area between the late 19th and early 20th century. The reopening under the aegis of Meliá Hotels International (MHI) will be the driving force behind today’s redevelopment of Piazza Cordusio, which promises to hand back one of the city’s key cultural hubs to the Milanese people, symbolically connecting the Duomo with the Sforzesco Castle, whilst inviting international travellers to discover its storied past.
The recent renovation project was managed by Generali Real Estate and MHI with the support of Studio Marco Piva, who handled the design and the artistic direction of the external facades and of all portions subject to monumental restrictions, the interior architecture and courtyard. In an effort to consciously conserve as much of the building as possible, the grand staircase became the protagonist, and its marble walls and floors maintained and restored to their former splendour, as were the original portal with the Generali Assicurazioni heading and the mosaic lunette with the Providence allegory. These are precious evidence of the previous function of the building, whose aesthetics have been reported on all the portals of the historical scale and in those created from scratch to maintain stylistic coherence throughout the hotel. The renovated building is now part of Generali’s European real estate portfolio.
Following the transformation of the building’s internal spaces 84 rooms and suites have been created, each of which preserves protected elements, whilst elevating the areas for their new intended use. The luxury accommodations are characterised by imposing windows and in some cases private balconies which provide abundant natural lighting and unique views of Piazza Cordusio, via Orefici, via dei Mercanti and the Duomo.
Studio Asah by Alvaro and Adriana Sans, MHI’s long-standing partner, was entrusted with the interior design of the rooms and communal areas, favouring a sophisticated and contemporary style to provide the perfect base for a truly memorable stay in the heart of Milan. All rooms and suites, as well as some corridors, are embellished with Rubelli fabrics to pay homage to Generali’s Venetian roots, while soft furnishings include iconic pieces from some of Italy’s most emblematic brands such as Molteni, Cassina, Fornasetti, Flos, Oluce and Foscarini.
Delectable Fine Dining
Renowned for creating unique experiences worldwide, Sunset Hospitality Group has grown to become a leading lifestyle hospitality group, currently operating across sixteen countries. They will oversee the hotel’s culinary offerings to bring guests together through food.
The Group will introduce four exceptional home-grown concepts to the hotel’s dining scene with the debut of Gioia Pasticceria, Giardino Cordusio, Isola Restaurant, and SACHI:
- Gioia: located on the ground floor with views overlooking the Square, Gioia Pasticceria is created in collaboration with master baker Fabio Bertoni to offer the experience of an authentic Pasticceria.
- Giardino Cordusio: the Italian cocktail bar located in the internal courtyard of the hotel is a joint project with Giancarlo Mancino, award-winning consulting barman and official partner of The World’s 50 Best Bars. The concept will offer exceptional cocktail creations featuring two stand-out elements created by Giancarlo: an impressively designed Martini “Altare” where a wide range of the signature Martini cocktails will be prepared, as well as the Negroni Alfresco, that will be stored for at least 30 days in a 30 litre amphora.
- Isola: led by Brand Chef Francesco Bagnato, Isola will bring a unique dining experience to Milan offering Italian favourites inspired by the Southern islands of Italy, along with an extensive selection of wines. The restaurant boasts a spacious terrace overlooking Palazzo della Ragione and Piazza Mercanti. The brand was recently recognized in the Michelin Guide and has established a global presence in key destinations including Dubai, Bodrum, Marbella, and Morocco.
- SACHI: already well established in London, SACHI is set to take centre stage on the Milanese dining scene under the guidance of acclaimed Chef Moon Kyung Soo, whose impressive career includes leading award-winning concepts such as SUSHISAMBA Dubai and Attiko. The Japanese restaurant will offer an Omakase counter, a large dining area, and an expansive garden space overlooking the Duomo. SACHI promises to take guests on a captivating journey through Japan’s diverse and exquisite flavours, emphasising local and seasonal ingredients all year round.
Guests can also access an intimate wellness area with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, and relaxation lounge; alongside a state-of-the-art gym complete with Technogym equipment and a full-width view of the Palazzo della Ragione and Piazza Mercanti.
The arrival of the first Gran Meliá branded hotel in Milan, and second in Italy after the success of Villa Agrippina in Rome, represents an important milestone for MHI. The opening further solidifies the country’s importance in the group’s luxury development pipeline, which includes the addition of a fifth hotel in Milan by 2024, as part of The Meliá Collection.
About Meliá Hotels International
Founded in 1956 in Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International has a portfolio of more than 400 hotels (portfolio and pipeline), throughout more than 40 countries, and 10 brands: Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, The Meliá Collection, ME by Meliá, Paradisus by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ZEL, INNSiDE by Meliá, Falcon’s Resorts by Meliá, Sol by Meliá and Affiliated by Meliá. The Group is one of the leading companies in resort hotels worldwide, while also leveraging its experience to consolidate the growing segment of the leisure-inspired urban market. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led the Group to become the most sustainable hotel company worldwide, according to the last S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, and it is also a “Top Employer 2023” brand in Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Italy and Germany. Meliá Hotels International is also included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market.
Studio Marco Piva (SMP)
Inside the creative and multicultural heart of Milan, that’s where you’ll find Studio Marco Piva: an academy of sciences more than an architectural and design firm, an experimental workshop where, with methodological rigor, different design scales are dealt with, from Master Plan to Architecture, from Interior to Industrial Design.
Over time, the Studio has completed numerous projects worldwide, many of which collect prestigious awards.
About Sunset Hospitality Group
Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) was founded in 2011 with a vision to create unique hospitality experiences around the world, ranging from resorts and beach clubs to restaurants and nightlife venues. Since then, the group has grown to become a leading hospitality investment and management company developing new and pioneering concepts and acclaimed multinational brands. SHG has a presence in 16 countries with a proven record in delivering a blend of high-quality services at exceptional locations. SHG’s portfolio includes renowned concepts including METT Hotels & Resorts, Azure Beach, Ammos, Drift Beach Club, AURA, SUSHISAMBA, DREAM, L’Amo Bistro del Mare, Black Tap, Lola Taberna Española, Goldfish, Isola, Raise Fitness & Wellness, and many more.
Generali Real Estate
Generali Real Estate S.p.A. is one of the world’s leading real estate asset managers with €38.5 billion of assets under management as of Q2 2023. The company’s integrated business model covers the full scope of asset management activities and the entire real estate value chain. A series of cross-border investment vehicles, managed by the specialized asset manager Generali Real Estate S.p.A. Società di gestione del risparmio, aims to create long-term value for investors with a core/core +profile by investing in assets characterized by good locations, high liquidity and strong underlying leasing dynamics. The portfolio under management comprises a unique mix of historical and modern properties, ranging from landmark buildings to new architectural masterpieces, which has enabled the company to develop best-in-class skills in the fields of technological innovation, sustainability and urban development. Generali Real Estate is part of the Generali Investments ecosystem of asset management firms.
