ISABELLE HARVIE-WATT CLAVARINO

OCCUPATION: Executive president of Havas Media

MY STYLE: Rock chic. I love skinny pants, oversized jackets, lots of black and leather. My favorite designers are Versace, Givenchy, and Stella McCartney. All my bags are from Tod’s.

I LOVE MILAN BECAUSE: Of its dimension. Almost everything is walking distance or a short drive away. It’s also safe, and children are welcome everywhere—from restaurants to museums. Schools are easy to get into, which my friends in New York and London envy enormously!


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The Four Seasons Milan

The glamorous Milan branch of the Four Seasons exists in a renovated 15th century convent, wherein cloister suites have retained their original vaulted ceilings and ornate frescos. We start our mornings with a macchiato and a newspaper in the lushly landscaped courtyard before venturing into the city. For kids, the hotel offers bedtime milk and cookies, child-sized bathrobes, and complimentary amenities upon arrival.

Di Luca

Since 1968, this Milanese beauty institution has been formulating effective, gentle products for hair, face, and body. Di Luca’s two salons in town use the brand’s signature products to pamper clients, and each team of aestheticians train at the salon’s own highly competitive beauty academy.

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Parco Sempione

The Milanese love their parks, and Parco Sempione is one of the finest and most popular. The 116-acre expanse includes a playground, a library, formal gardens, and an unbeatable view of the Arco alla Pace. The paths—which wind around ponds and under bridges—are perfect for a weekend bike ride or leisurely walk.

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Biblioteca Ambrosiana

This wood-paneled library is one of the largest and most important in Italy. Biblioteca Ambrosiana is a historical treasure trove of rare and important works, including manuscripts of Giovanni Boccaccio and fragments from Plautus. On the whole, the collection includes more than 30,000 manuscripts.

Trattoria del Carmine

At Trattoria del Carmine, there’s more seating outside in the piazza than inside the restaurant, which happens to be quaint and family-owned. The menu infuses Mediterranean flavors into such traditional Milanese dishes as risotto al salto, battuta di manzo, and ice cream Dai-Dai. The surrounding Brera neighborhood is perfect for an after-dinner stroll.