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Milan's emerging Ponte Nuova district is celebrating the revival of a queen, the Excelsior Hotel Gallia (www.excelsiorhotelgallia. com; 011-390-267-851; Fax 390-2678-5787), which has just unveiled a total reincarnation. The five-star luxury property has 235 rooms, of which 53 are suites.
When the hotel was built in 1932, it was in the perfect Milanese location - just across the Piazza Duca D'Aosta from the fabulous Art Deco main train station. When air travel eclipsed the train, this Grand Dame hotel faded in looks and popularity.
Today, fast trains from Italy and around Europe are in demand and the Excelsior Hotel Gallia is once again ideally located. The surrounding area is full of new skyscrapers and the shabby piazza has been upgraded with new trees and greenery.
Architect Marco Piva worked with Starwood's Luxury Collection management and hotel owners Katara Hospitality to retain a vestige of tradition within a contemporary palette. The outside of the existing building retains its original Belle Époque/Art Deco beauty; an adjacent new glass structure reminds us we are in Milan, the land of haute design. Longtime Starwood exec Marco Olivieri (011-390-267851) is the general manager and Maurizio Busani (excelsiorhotel [email protected]) is the head concierge.
Inside, the public spaces are elegant, combining elements of the 1930s with cutting edge design, showcased by the vast array of custom-designed contemporary chandeliers and light fixtures. The cream-colored travertine marble and lush fabrics add light and air to the space, a welcome change from the setting when we last visited the Gallia.
The wide variety of suites offers layouts that are suitable for business in Milan (whether film, finance or fashion), as well as for leisure or family travel. The largest is the 10,750-squarefoot, four-bedroom Katara Suite (including space for staff and a private suite-within-a-suite fit for a princess), which has two terraces on the seventh floor, as well as living/dining space for large groups and a private spa. The décor is mostly in...