VENICE, Italy – The new illy Caffè opens today in Venice, inside the historic Giardini Reali near San Marco. The Royal Gardens were commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in the early nineteenth century, and are now once again open to the city after a major restoration project.
The illy Caffè is located inside the historical Coffee Pavilion, a neoclassical construction designed by the architect Lorenzo Santi between 1816 and 1817 and used for the Cafehaus in the park during the Habsburg period.
The project to restore this remarkable historical location has taken several years, and has been promoted and undertaken by the Venice Gardens Foundation in collaboration with Assicurazioni Generali. illycaffè is delighted to participate in the project, and returning the pavilion to its original function is an ideal role for the company.
The redevelopment of the circular space inside the greenhouse was entrusted to the Locatelli Partners studio, who have reinterpreted the typical stylistic features of historic greenhouses, emphasizing the elegance of the luminous space, flooded with light from the tall windows all around, and the openings onto the garden. The new illy Caffè covers an area of 250 square meters.
Guests are welcomed in the centre at a large circular counter with brass details, and these materials, together with the unmistakable illy red, are also carried over into the tables and the spectacular 4-circle chandelier constructed with blown glass rings, a celebration of the Venetian tradition of glass-making.
Open every day from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, the illy Caffè offers a rich and varied range of products, ideal for any time of the day. Start the day with the aroma of the unique illy blend and delicious confectionery, enjoy a fresh and original lunch break, or relax with a selection of aperitifs and cocktails in the evening. Inside the store there is also an area for the sale of products and accessories from the world of illy: from the illy Arabica Selection range, to Iperespresso machines and the iconic illy Art Collection cups.
The new illy Caffè is sure to become a favourite meeting point for everyone who loves taste and beauty, in one of the most beloved historical sites in Venice, just a few steps from Piazza San Marco.
“We have a deep and long-lasting connection with Venice – says the Chairman of illycaffè, Andrea Illy – in no small part this is thanks to coffee, because Venice, like Vienna, was the city where coffee first came to Europe at the end of the sixteenth century. There is a rich tradition of shops and historical coffee houses in the city, which are genuine references to the Italian lifestyle around the world. But our connection is also due to art, thanks to our twenty-year collaboration with the Biennale. As a confirmation of our deep ties with the city – continues Andrea Illy – illycaffè is delighted to be able to return a significant feature of the urban heritage to the people of Venice and the millions of visitors that come here each year, a celebration of both the artistic heritage and the traditional warm welcome the city is famous for.”
illy Caffè – Giardini Reali – Venice will be open to the public from December 17th. The Caffè is open every day from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
