The Lombard capital, home to the House of Prada and the beating heart of fashion weeks, was bound to be part of Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs’ Italian getaway in the second installment of the film adaptation of Lauren Weisberger’s novel.
Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Brunello Cucinelli, Versace…
Following the late Valentino Garavani’s first on-screen appearance playing himself in the original film twenty years ago, “Made in Italy” is once again well-represented in The Devil Wears Prada 2—or rather, “Il Diavolo veste Prada due” in Dante’s language.
And what could be more iconic for any fashion insider like Miranda Priestly or Andy Sachs—aka Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway—than a trip to a fashion show… and more if the mood strikes in Italy’s economic and industrial capital: Milan.
The epicenter of Made in Italy, the Lombard capital saw the birth of the Prada empire 113 years ago. And the film features a whole host of filming locations that are just as many places to discover, only 1.5 hours from Paris by plane and 7 hours by TGV… much longer from New York (8 hours and 10 minutes by plane), but let’s hope Miranda remembers that.
Where to stay: Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa Milano
The base for Miranda’s entire team—the former fashion queen at the helm of Runway (partly modeled after Anna Wintour, the real-life editor-in-chief of Vogue USA for 37 years)—the Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa Milano has the advantage of being a luxury establishment while also serving as a link to the first installment of the film, which took place in… Paris.
Inside, however, it is the quintessential Milanese woman—with her large sunglasses and impeccable sartorial ensemble in dark shades (scuria)—who haunts the walls. This spectacular five-star establishment, with 54 rooms and 41 suites in the heart of Milan, offers privileged access to the Brera Art Museum.
For a postcard-perfect view: Piazza del Duomo
In the film, Andy Sachs dashes across it—and not necessarily for the view, which she has plenty of time to admire from her hotel room. Yet the Piazza del Duomo, or Cathedral Square, is undoubtedly Milan’s most iconic spot, alongside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Duomo.
This landmark, with its 47-meter-high dome, is home to Milan’s temple of luxury shopping, where you’ll find the cream of international fashion houses, from Louis Vuitton to Gucci, including Chanel, Tod’s, and Giorgio Armani. Special mention goes to Prada, which opened its historic boutique there as early as 1913. The hatmaker Borsalino also chose this prestigious location for its first boutique. The site was named in honor of the first king of unified Italy, Victor Emmanuel II. It notably serves the city’s famous opera house, the Teatro alla Scala.
The second is Italy’s most famous Gothic cathedral and a true symbol of Milan, recognizable by its white marble façade and 130 spires. Construction began in 1386, while its terrace notably hosted Alain Delon for the film Rocco and His Brothers (1960). It was actually on this square that the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show was originally scheduled to take place.
To enjoy a panoramic view, there’s nothing like heading up to the Terrazza Duomo 21 cocktail bar.
To revamp your wardrobe: Via Montenapoleone
Located in the Quadrilatero della Moda, Via Montenapoleone remains a must-visit hotspot for any luxury shopping enthusiast. Although relatively short—just 350 meters—it is home to more than fifty luxury boutiques, including Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Versace.
To put the world to rights with Tom Ford: Da Giacomo
A ritual simply mentioned by Nigel in the film, he never misses an opportunity to share a table with designer Tom Ford at every Milan Fashion Week.
Founded in 1958, it is a true culinary institution in the Lombard capital. Renowned for its elegance and traditional Italian cuisine, it is above all the ideal place to enjoy fish and seafood in a setting inspired by 19th-century trattorias. Located at Via Pasquale Sottocorno, 6, east of downtown, near the Corso Indipendenza district.
For lunch with Donatella: Il Salumaio
In the film, Emily is unexpectedly surprised by Andy while she is seated on the terrace with—no less than—Donatella Versace, the sister of Gianni, the late founder of the famous Milanese fashion house of the same name founded in 1978, whom she had replaced at the last minute following his assassination in 1997.
What began as a delicatessen (salumeria) when it opened in 1957 has become a restaurant as popular with Milan’s elite as it is with the fashion world. The restaurant, located at Via Santo Spirito 10, just a stone’s throw from Via Montenapoleone, is renowned for its traditional Italian cuisine featuring fresh homemade pasta, meat, and fish, as well as high-end cured meats (Parma ham, bresaola…). Its magnificent Renaissance courtyard, located within a historic palace (Bagatti Valsecchi), undoubtedly plays a significant role in its allure.
To admire Da Vinci’s fresco: Santa Maria della Grazie
In the film, one of the high-society events organized by Runway magazine takes place at the foot of the famous fresco The Last Supper, depicting Jesus’s final meal, which Leonardo da Vinci painted between 1495 and 1498.
While the work was brilliantly reproduced in a studio for the production, the original can be found in one of the city’s most iconic churches: Santa Maria della Grazie. Built in the 15th century, the building features a variety of styles ranging from Gothic to Renaissance…
To witness a runway… of works of art: the Accademia di Brera
While Piazza del Duomo was ruled out as the venue for the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show (in place of Giorgio Armani, who was ill during filming), the production team turned to the Accademia di Brera, or more precisely, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera or the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera.
Founded in 1776 by Maria Theresa of Austria, this prestigious art school specializes in teaching painting, sculpture, design, and art restoration. Its name is a nod to its immediate surroundings, the Brera district, renowned for its art galleries, cafés, and bohemian atmosphere. Visible in the film, the inner courtyard of the Brera Palace, with its colonnades—which shares this space with the famous Pinacoteca di Brera—is definitely worth a visit.
To discover an authentic “Milanese” palazzo: Villa Arconati
Villa Arconati is one of the stops outside Milan in the film’s Italian getaway.
Built starting in the 17th century by the Arconati family, the eponymous villa is an authentic palazzo nicknamed the “little Lombard Versailles.” It is a large historic country villa located near Milan, in the municipality of Bollate (Castellazzo district).
To pop open a bottle of champagne with your feet in the water: Villa Balbaniello
One of the key scenes in The Devil Wears Prada 2 takes place on the terrace of Villa Balbaniello, a building well-known to film buffs along Lake Como. Before Emily Blunt, the location is known for having hosted Daniel Craig as James Bond and Natalie Portman in Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones. More recently, the iconic building and its breathtaking view of the Italian lagoon were chosen as Aldo Gucci’s home in the film House of Gucci.
Bonus: To book Miranda’s “Milanese” room
Undoubtedly the most surprising fact of this trip to Italy. For filming purposes, Miranda’s hotel room isn’t actually in Milan… but in New York. Head to the Woolworth Building.
Not strictly a hotel, the building, constructed in 1913, now houses luxury residences, high-end private spaces, and a former penthouse apartment that feels like an ultra-luxurious suite.
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Featured photo: 20th Century Studios
