A fair bit of Milan, perhaps more so than any of Italy’s other major cities, is of a rather recent vintage. Its status as the country’s industrial capital meant the Second World War didn’t exactly treat it kindly. But there’s still plenty of deep history in this town, if you know where to look — for a start, there’s the Camperio House, built from the bones of a fifteenth-century palace, which itself is an expansion of an eighth-century convent.

In this town, of course, nothing escapes a but of scrutiny by the eye of a designer. The rooms, suites and apartments are neither as painstakingly historical as the fifteenth-century common rooms nor as rakishly modern as some of the others in Milan. Instead there’s a mix of contemporary and antique fixtures and furnishings, with bold striped wallpapers setting a luxe tone. The overriding look is that of a classic palazzo updated for the modern era — fitting, since that’s exactly what it is.

It must be said: this is no full-service luxury hotel. While what it does have is undoubtedly top-class, including not just the accommodations but the business center and meeting spaces as well, there’s no spa, restaurant, or other big-hotel perks — but with the best of central Milan at your feet, it’s not exactly roughing it.


Please note: Camperio House will be closed for the month of August.