Ferragamo-owned Lungarno Collection aims to add new luxury hotels in Italy

“Entering the world of hospitality was very important to my family as it’s very similar to the world of fashion, giving us the opportunity to create a different experience and lasting memories,” said Leonardo Ferragamo, son of Salvatore Ferragamo, on the occasion of the hospitality venture’s 30th anniversary. Today, the Lungarno Collection includes Hotel Lungarno, its flagship property; Continentale; Gallery Hotel Art and Lungarno Apartments, as well as the exclusive Portrait Collection, including the Portrait Firenze, Portrait Roma and Portrait Milano.

The culmination of the company’s efforts was the opening of Milan’s Portrait hotel in 2022, which came to life after years of lengthy negotiations with the city’s municipality, the local curia and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. The building, which was first constructed in 1564 and is nestled between Corso Venezia and neighboring Via Sant’Andrea, is defined by its 16th century colonnade and a Baroque-era portal. The vast space was redesigned by architect Michele De Lucchi and spans over 30,140 square feet – the size of Piazza San Babila in Milan.

Beyond the hotels, Lungarno Collection is also celebrated for its culinary excellence. It manages three renowned restaurants: the Michelin-starred Borgo San Jacopo, Caffè dell’Oro and The Fusion Bar & Restaurant. These are complemented by three signature bars in Florence – La Terrazza at Hotel Continentale, 701 Rooftop Bar at Gallery Hotel Art and Picteau Bistro & Bar at Hotel Lungarno – as well as the elegant 10_11 bar and garden restaurant in Milan.

While Lungarno Collection benefits from the heritage of the Ferragamo family, Lungarno Collection is not an extension of the Ferragamo fashion brand. The approach has always been to draw from the Ferragamo family’s cultural sensibility and tradition of innovation rather than relying on the fashion name itself. This has allowed to develop a distinctive identity – one that is deeply personal, intentionally niche and centered on creating immersive, beautifully crafted experiences in iconic locations. The Portrait brand was built from the ground up, not on instant recognition, but on substance – through exquisite design, intimate service and a philosophy of tailored luxury.

Since 1984, Italy – one of the world’s leading countries for hospitality – has lacked a true national luxury hotel brand. In the past, that role was held by CIGA which unfortunately went bankrupt and was later acquired by Starwood Hotels. Today, this gap remains. We believe that any brand aspiring to take on the legacy of CIGA must have a strong presence in Italy’s most important cultural cities – Venice, Florence, Rome, Milan and Naples – as well as in the country’s most iconic leisure destinations. Having already established properties in Milan, Florence and Rome, our goal is to complete the historic “Grand Tour” by expanding the Portrait Collection to include these remaining key cities. Valeriano Antonioli CEO Lungarno Collection

Portrait Milan