Milanese Winter Wonderland For A Good Cause

By AHL on 12.11.25

In a city where style reigns and design is doctrine, Portrait Milano has done something unexpected: they’ve built an ice-skating rink in the middle of the fashion district. The hotel overlooks the Piazza del Quadrilatero, the 32,000-square-foot public square linking Corso Venezia with Via Sant’Andrea, once the courtyard of Milan’s oldest seminary. Through January 6, the square hosts The GIFT, benefiting Fondazione Mente, a Rome-based foundation founded in 2021 by Manuele d’Oppido and Vanessa Bozzacchi to support children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly those on the autism spectrum.

At the heart of the event sits a 15×15-meter rink, inviting Milanese families, travelers, and the merely skate-curious to join the festivities. Hot chocolate and mulled wine flow alongside roasted chestnuts and panettone, all set against the historic colonnades. Each €15 donation goes directly to Fondazione Mente, funding traditional therapies, recreational and sports activities, workshops, and the creation of facilities designed to foster growth, relationships, and well-being, offering daily support to both children and their families.

For spectators, ice shows by Ghiaccio Spettacolo take over the rink on December 13th and 20th. Beyond the skating, the programming fits a neighborhood known for Prada and Valentino: Ferragamo has installed a chalet-style winter boutique, Perfect Moment brings alpine style from Chamonix, and Lindt will be showcasing “live chocolate sessions.” We’re not entirely sure what that means, but how could it be bad?

The initiative reflects Portrait Milano’s ongoing commitment to activating public space for the community. Since opening just three years ago, the hotel has consistently programmed the piazza—this past summer’s “Portraits of an Italian Summer” brought cinema, concerts, and even a tennis court to the square. The GIFT continues that vision, what CEO Valeriano Antonioli describes as a desire to transform Christmas joy into shared generosity and a way to give back to the extraordinary city that gives so much to the hotel.

At the piazza, Portrait Milano has created a space where entertainment and philanthropy coexist, proving that luxury hospitality can extend beyond its own walls. Book your holiday ice experience.

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