As Italy steps into its most luminous season, Lungarno Collection welcomes guests to discover the festive beauty of winter through Portrait Firenze, Milano and Roma. Each destination reflects the art of Italian living at its most elegant, when centuries of tradition collide with contemporary warmth, and every stay becomes a celebration of time and place.
Festivity Meets Refinement in Milan
In Milan’s historic heart, Portrait Milano opens onto the graceful Piazza a 2,800-square-metre courtyard framed by soaring colonnades and soft golden light. Beyond its Baroque archway, the city hums with anticipation, from the Christmas Market in Piazza del Duomo, where more than 60 wooden stalls fill the square with handmade ornaments and regional delicacies, to the centuries-old “Oh Bej! Oh Bej!” Fair circling Castello Sforzesco, its air rich with roasted chestnuts, sweets and nostalgia.
This winter, Portrait Milano transforms its courtyard into a storybook scene with “The Gift: Portrait of a Winter Tale”, opening to the public on 26 November. Alongside the traditional Christmas tree, a charming ice-skating rink will invite Milanese, visitors and hotel guests alike to experience the joy of movement beneath the glittering colonnades. Combining the magic of the festive season with an act of solidarity, the initiative embodies a spirit of generosity. Proceeds from the rink will be donated to Fondazione Mente, supporting children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly those on the autism spectrum.
Afternoons and evenings unfold at the hotel’s 10_11 Bar and Garden, with Milan’s classic treats: the creamy chocolate, delicate nougats, and the buttery artisanal panettone.
After a day exploring the illuminated Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II or the candlelit Navigli canals, guests can restore body and mind at the Longevity Spa by The Longevity Suite, leading biohacking and anti-ageing concept and the first of its kind within a hotel. Advanced cryotherapy and infrared rituals provide a counterpoint to the winter chill, redefining rest as renewal. Between evening strolls along the stylish neighbourhoods of Brera and Fashion District with their festive art installations, boutique displays and creative light designs, Milan in December is a study in urban grace.
A Florentine Renaissance in Winter Light
In Florence, the season begins with the scent of spices drifting through cobbled streets. The Piazza Santa Croce Weihnachtsmarkt fills the square with wooden chalets selling ornaments and crafts, while the Fierucola dell’Immacolata on Piazza della Santissima Annunziata celebrates handmade Tuscan goods and local produce. By evening, the Florence Lights Up festival, running from 7 December until 7 January, turns the Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Vecchio into canvases of projected colour.
Overlooking the Arno, Portrait Firenze offers a front-row view of this spectacle from its river-facing suites. Inside, modern Italian design meets the warmth of family heritage, marble, oak and soft textiles framing the city’s winter skyline.
Eternal Lights and Eternal Stories of Rome
In Rome, Christmas feels timeless. The Piazza Navona Christmas Market returns with its vintage carousel, puppet shows, and appearances by the traditional holiday witch “La?Befana” on Epiphany on 6 January, while the Christmas World festival in Villa Borghese transforms the park into a theatre of light with installations and performances.
Tucked just off Via Condotti, Portrait Roma is a haven of quiet luxury amid the festive hum. From its rooftop terrace, guests can take in the twinkling skyline and the Spanish Steps draped in lights. The hotel’s tailored service, from personal shoppers to curated city walks, offers an elegant way to experience the Eternal City at its most atmospheric.
After a day among Rome’s glowing piazzas, return to suites designed with refined Roman ease, where handcrafted details and warm lighting echo the timelessness of the city beyond. And as candles flicker against marble walls, guests are reminded that Rome, even after two millennia, still knows how to celebrate with wonder.
Three Cities, One Portrait of Italian Living
Guests can enjoy the Portrait Duet, staying a minimum of five nights across two Portrait hotels within two weeks, with a 10% discount, free cancellation up to 10 days before arrival, and VIP perks such as bespoke shopping, a Milanese aperitivo, a sunset drink on Florence’s Ponte Vecchio, and a rooftop toast in Rome. Discover more here.
Each Portrait Hotel expresses a different facet of Italy
Milan’s cosmopolitan refinement, Florence’s artistic soul, and Rome’s eternal romance. Together, they form the essence of Lungarno Collection, the pursuit of beauty, balance, and belonging. This winter, step into Italy’s brightest season and experience the holidays through the eyes of the Portrait world, where every light, flavour, and gesture are lived well and with purpose.