The Gran Meliá brand’s first property in the Italian city of Milan is opening this month.

Developed in partnership with Sunset Hospitality Group, the five-star Palazzo Cordusio, A Gran Meliá Hotel is the brand’s second property in Italy, and Meliá’s fourth luxury property in the country.

Located in Piazza Cordusio, one of the city’s most iconic squares, the hotel is housed within the historic Palazzo Venezia, which was originally built between 1897 and 1901 by architect Luca Beltrami and was the Milanese headquarters for Assicurazioni Generali for over a century.

The property’s renovation was managed by Meliá Hotels International (MHI) and Generali Real Estate with the support of Studio Marco Piva. Working together to conserve as much of the original building as possible, they restored the grand staircase, the building’s marble walls and floors, and the original portal with the Assicurazioni Generali heading and the mosaic lunette with the Providence allegory.

Eighty-four guestrooms and suites were created following the transformation of the property’s interior. The luxury accommodations feature large windows, and in some cases private balconies, which provide natural lighting and views of Piazza Cordusio, via Orefici, via dei Mercanti, and the Milan’s famous Duomo.

Studio Asah by Alvaro and Adriana Sans, MHI’s long-time partner, were tasked with the interior design of the guestrooms and the hotel’s public spaces. Design details in all rooms and suites, as well as some corridors, include Rubelli fabrics that pay homage to the building’s past, and soft furnishings from world-renowned Italian brands such as Molteni, Cassina, Fornasetti, Flos, Oluce, and Foscarini.

The hotel will also feature four dining concepts from Sunset Hospitality Group:

• Gioia Pasticceria, an authentic pastry shop on the ground floor helmed by master baker Fabio Bertoni;
• Giardino Cordusio, an Italian cocktail bar located in the internal courtyard that is a joint project with Giancarlo Mancino, an award-winning consulting barman and official partner of The World’s 50 Best Bars;
• Isola, a unique dining experience led by brand Chef Francesco Bagnato and offering Italian favorites inspired by Italy’s southern islands;
• and Sachi, a Japanese restaurant under the guidance of acclaimed Chef Moon Kyung Soo.

Palazzo Cordusio also features a dedicated wellness area featuring an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, and relaxation lounge alongside a state-of-the-art gym with Technogym equipment and a panormanic view of the Palazzo della Ragione and Piazza Mercanti.

The hotel’s dedicated meeting and event space is comprised of three rooms across 1,115 square feet suitable for groups of up to 60 people.

Meliá will open a fifth hotel in Milan in 2024.