Another chapter in Milan’s rich history is about to close: the Sheraton Diana Majestic in Viale Piave, not far from Porta Venezia, has announced that it will close in 2025. The building, whose history is truly unique, has been much more than a hotel in the last century and even before. The passage of famous personalities and the many important events that have taken place here have made it a symbol of Milan's cultural and social life.

The roots of this majestic place go back to 1842, when the Bagno di Diana was inaugurated, the first bathing establishment in the city, designed by the architect Andrea Pizzala, famous for the Galleria De Cristoforis, also in Milan, demolished in 1940. Bagno di Diana was conceived as a true urban oasis, offering the people of Milan a place to swim and relax. 

In 1907, the original Baths of Diana were demolished to make way for an ambitious project: the Kursaal Diana. Inaugurated in 1908, this refined late Liberty-style complex, designed by architect Achille Manfredini and later renovated by Giorgio De Finetti, represented a new model of entertainment and hospitality: equipped with a theatre, a restaurant and rooms for social events, it quickly became a landmark for Milan’s elite. The complex regularly hosted artists, intellectuals and influential figures, becoming a symbol of the elegance and vibrant social life of early 20th century Milan.

Now the building’s owner, a Milanese real estate company, has decided not to renew the management contract with Marriott International, the hotel giant that runs such prestigious properties as the St Regis and the Gritti Palace in Venice. Although the future of the building remains uncertain, early rumours point to the arrival of a new hotel or, perhaps,