MILAN Milan has now its own Rockefeller moment, courtesy of the Ferragamo family and their Portrait hotel. The implementation is part of a broader activation covering the holiday season and operating until Jan. 6. Named “The Gift: Portrait of a Winter’s Tale,” the project will see the hospitality company welcoming its guests and opening its doors to Milanese citizens and tourists to invite them to partake in festive celebrations including ice skating sessions, shopping and culinary experiences. “When we first saw this fantastic place in 2013, we immediately began to think about what we could do in this square,” said Lungarno Collection’s chief executive officer Valeriano Antonioli presenting the project on Wednesday. “Creating an ice rink, surrounded by beautiful fir trees and a big Christmas tree was among the many ideas we had. It inspired us for more than 10 years until today. And we wanted to call the project ‘The Gift’ because for us this was a gift not only to ourselves but, above all, to . We wanted to thank the city for welcoming us with open arms over these past three years.” The name is also in sync with the charity bent of the activation. Open every day from 11 a. m. CET to 7 p. m. CET, the ice rink is accessible upon registration through a dedicated website. A ticket granting access to an hour-long experience is priced 15 euros, which will be fully and directly donated to Fondazione Mente. Founded in 2021 by Manuele d’Oppido and Vanessa Bozzacchi, this Rome-based foundation supports kids with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly those on the autism spectrum. Proceeds from the ice rink reservations will support the Fondazione Mente’s projects, including traditional therapies, recreational and sports activities, workshops and the creation of facilities designed to foster growth, relationships and well-being, offering daily support both to children and their families. “This project is a way to congratulate Fondazione Mente for everything they do and to contribute actively and effectively to their work,” said Leonardo Ferragamo, son of Salvatore Ferragamo and chairman of the Florence-based luxury company. He additionally highlighted how the initiative also ties with the world of winter sports in the lead-up of Milan’s central role in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which will run Feb. 6 to 22 and March 6 to 15 next year, respectively. Rounding out Portrait’s project are the opening of a series of greenhouse-like pop-ups around the rink. The pop-ups installed by Ferragamo showcase special pieces designed for winter and with a gifting approach in mind, ranging from leather goods and footwear to silk scarves and scented candles. A selection of the brand’s products also makes a cameo in a pop-up installed in collaboration with Samsung Electronics, where guests are invited to test and interact with the new Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy S25 Ultra devices, as well as the Gemini Live tool to get styling tips and try on Ferragamo products through augmented reality. Those seeking for real-life ski gear, can count on the pop-up opened by Perfect Moment and showcasing pieces from the Chamonix-born brand’s fall 2025 collection. Flanking the shopping sessions, culinary experiences are offered at a pop-up of chocolate specialist Lindt, as well as Christmas-themed delicacies served in a street food format by Portrait Milano’s 10_11 restaurant, including Panettone bites, gingerbread cookies, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts. The hotel’s Beefbar restaurant will also turn into the Beefbar Café to offer fine coffee blends, artisanal pastries and a selection of drinks and wines during the monthlong activation, while its Rumore cocktail bar will be involved in the schedule of events, such as the live performance of a gospel choir on Dec. 14.
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