Who were the Sorelle Fontana?

Zoe, Micol, and Giovanna Fontana were three sisters from Traversetolo, near Parma, who founded their haute couture maison in Rome in 1943. Their atelier on Via Liguria became one of the most celebrated in Italy, dressing international film stars and contributing to the founding of the Italian fashion system in the 1950s.

What brought international attention to the Fontana sisters?

The turning point came on January 27, 1949, when actress Linda Christian wore a Fontana gown for her wedding to Tyrone Power at the church of Santa Francesca Romana in Rome. The global press coverage that followed brought the maison to international attention. Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly all commissioned pieces from the sisters in the years that followed.

What role did the Fontana sisters play in Italian fashion history?

The sisters were among the founding participants in the first collective Italian fashion presentation organized by Giovanni Battista Giorgini at Palazzo Torrigiani in Florence on February 12, 1951. Their work helped establish Italian haute couture as an original discipline with its own artistic identity, distinct from the French fashion system.

Where can visitors see the Sorelle Fontana archive today?

Archival garments and original sketches from the Sorelle Fontana collection are on display at the Grand Hotel Plaza on Via del Corso in Rome, accessible during hotel hours.

The Winter Garden and Belle Époque at Grand Hotel Plaza

The Winter Garden at Grand Hotel Plaza sits in a second-floor internal courtyard in central Rome. Guests enter a serene space surrounded by greenery under a glass roof that floods the area with natural light. This courtyard captures the hotel's tradition of refined hospitality.

Roman origins from the 1860s

Grand Hotel Plaza started as Palazzo Lozzano in 1837 before opening as a hotel in the 1860s on Via del Corso. Its location between Piazza di Spagna and Piazza del Popolo placed it at the center of Rome's social and elite travel scene.

Through decades the property earned recognition among Rome's landmark addresses. Architects kept original structural features while updating spaces for contemporary comfort. The Winter Garden stands as part of this balance between historic character and practical use.

Today's guests pass through entrance halls that retain 19th-century proportions and scale. Public areas throughout the hotel preserve the classical Roman elegance that defines the property.

Art Nouveau in the courtyard setting

Belle Époque design influenced luxury hotels across Europe from 1871 to 1914 through curved lines, rich materials, and generous open spaces. Grand Hotel Plaza features Art Nouveau details from the 1920s in public areas including decorative ironwork and period lighting fixtures.

The Winter Garden receives daylight through its glass roof creating a bright, airy courtyard atmosphere. Greenery and plants line the space softening the shift from Rome's busy streets to the hotel's calm interior.

Daylight moves across walls and floors throughout the day. Guests experience the courtyard's character changing from morning brightness to softer afternoon light.

Everyday moments in a historic courtyard

Guests today use the Winter Garden for morning coffee, light meals, and casual meetings. The open courtyard layout welcomes small groups while maintaining space for individual relaxation.

Hotel staff keep plants fresh and surfaces clean supporting the property's five-star service standards. The courtyard connects directly to neighboring salons making it practical for longer stays or consecutive reservations.

Rome visitors value this break between sightseeing at the Trevi Fountain or Spanish Steps. The Winter Garden provides 30-60 minutes of calm just one block from the city's pace.

Central location defines guest experience

Grand Hotel Plaza occupies Via del Corso, Rome's premier shopping street, 100 meters from Piazza di Spagna. Guests walk to major landmarks: Pantheon in 10 minutes, Trevi Fountain in 8 minutes, Piazza del Popolo in 5 minutes.

This positioning serves travelers seeking instant access to boutiques, galleries, and cafes without taxis or public transport. The hotel integrates with surrounding architecture at street level rather than dominating the scene.

The Winter Garden proves essential for guests managing full itineraries. After climbing Spanish Steps or browsing Via Condotti it offers the logical first stop upon returning to the hotel.

Preserved details shape every stay

Grand Hotel Plaza maintains original ceiling heights, door frames, and floor patterns across public spaces. These elements deliver a sense of scale rare in modern city-center hotels.

The Winter Garden benefits from its courtyard position blocking street noise while allowing light and air circulation. Guests connect directly with Rome's climate through seasonal temperature shifts and changing sunlight hours.

The space embodies what attracts visitors to historic properties: authentic materials, practical layouts, and daily function refined through generations rather than recent design trends.