Principe di Savoia

Hotel Principe di Savoia, also known as "The Principe",  is a five-star luxury hotel in Milan, Italy. It was given the name "Principe e Savoia" in 1927, and soon became a home for businessmen.

In 2003, the hotel became part of the Dorchester Collection, a group of luxury hotels owned by the Brunei Investment Agency. Located on Piazza della Repubblica, The Principe houses 301 rooms with 44 suites, on ten floors.

History
The hotel originally opened in April 1927 as the Principe e Savoia, developed by S.A. Acquisto ed Esercizio Alberghi Savoia. It has a neoclassical architectural design and was developed by Milanese architect Cesare Tenca. Following the Great Depression in the 1930s, the hotel was acquired by CIGA Hotels Group in 1938, which also managed hotels including the Danieli and Gritti Palace in Venice.

During World War II, the Principe e Savoia became a headquarters for the Germans, and later served as the American headquarters. The hotel underwent renovations in the 1950s, adding two wings: Principe Rosso and Metallico.

In the 1980s, CIGA renamed the hotel "Principe di Savoia", the proper way to refer to the Italian royal family, the House of Savoy, for which the hotel is named. Starwood bought a controlling interest in CIGA Hotels in 1994.

In 2003, the hotel was purchased from Starwood by the Dorchester Collection, joining a group of five-star hotels that also includes hotels such as The Dorchester, Plaza Athénée, and Hôtel Meurice.

Overview
Principe di Savoia is located in close proximity to Garibaldi, Centrale, and Cadorna stations, as well as the La Scala theatre. The hotel is appointed with a combination of classic Italian and art deco furnishings, complemented by various statues and decor throughout the premises. The entrance showcases an ornate stained-glass domed ceiling, while mosaics and chandeliers are present both in common areas and guest rooms.

It has a Presidential Suite, positioned on the tenth floor, in which many people like Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Woody Allen, President George H. W. Bush, Bill Gates, President Vladimir Putin have slept.

The Principe has two restaurants and the Principe Bar (renovated in 2009 by architect Thierry Despont). There is also Salotto which is a casual lobby lounge and Acanto that is the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant headed by executive chef Fabrizio Cadei.

Notable guests
Since its opening, Principe di Savoia hosted notable guests and celebrities such as Edward VIII, Erich Maria Remarque, Aristotle Onassis, Evita Peron, Maria Callas, Charlie Chaplin, Josephine Baker, The Aga Khan, David Rockefeller, Elizabeth Taylor, Henry Ford and the Prince of Monaco.

Other notable guests of the hotel have included Madonna, George Clooney and David and Victoria Beckham.