Photo: Pixabay (Na slici: Statuta Leonarda da Vinčija u Milanu)The vineyard and Leonardo Da Vinci's former residence in the center of Milan have a new owner – luxury goods mogul, Frenchman Bernard Arnault, who is also involved in winemaking.
According to press reports, Arnault, the chairman and CEO of LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), bought the multi-storey building known as Casa Degli Atellani in Milan from the previous owners, descendants of the Conti and Portaluppi families, reports Blic Biznis.
The value of the transaction and the purpose of the acquisition were not disclosed, and representatives of LVMH did not respond to requests for press questions.
Built around 1490, the property was gifted to Da Vinci by the Duke of Milan Ludovico "Il Moro" in 1498, while he was in the city to paint his masterpiece The Last Supper.
After changing several owners over time, the Milanese residence located at Tony Corso Magenta was bought in 1919 by the senator and entrepreneur Ettore Conti, whose son-in-law, the famous architect Piero Portaluppi, was commissioned to restore it.
The 15th-century town house hides a green courtyard that is home to the Da Vinci Vineyard, currently the only existing wine estate in the center of the metropolis. Neglected and devastated, the vineyard of 16 rows on about two hectares was carefully restored in 2014 and finally presented to the public during the international Expo 2015 held in Milan.
Since its reopening, this landmark has welcomed visitors and tourists. It has six apartments for rent. It has hosted numerous private events, including fashion shows and presentations, and cocktail receptions.
News of Arnault's purchase of the complex was first reported by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
Arnault, whose net worth was estimated at $181.8 billion in December, according to Forbes, is among the world's richest people, often competing for the top spot with entrepreneurs including Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk and Amazon's Jeff Bezos.
In addition to controlling fashion brands such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy, among others, LVMH owns 26 firms in the wine and spirits category, including Ruinart, Dom Pérignon, Moët & Chandon, and Veuve Clicquot. It also boasts a hospitality division, under another business name, which includes luxury operators such as Cheval Blanc and Belmond.
In 2013, the French group acquired a majority stake in the famous Pasticceria Confetteria Cova Srl, owner of the Cova brand, and the company Cova Montenapoleone Srl, which manages one of the most elegant and iconic cafes in Milan, located on Via Montenapoleone.
Source: Blic Biznis
