The Carlton’s story is one of reinvention. First opened in 1963 as the Baglioni Hotel Carlton, during Italy’s postwar boom, the property was for many years considered one of the city’s most prestigious hotel addresses. Over the decades, however, it began to show its age, with infrastructure and interiors increasingly in need of an overhaul.
In 2020, the property was taken over by Rocco Forte Hotels, making it the company’s tenth Italian address. Following a five-year, €60-million renovation, the hotel reopened in November 2025 in time for the Winter Olympics.
Designed by architects Philip Vergeylen and Paolo Moschino, the extensive renovation was carried out under the creative direction of Olga Polizzi, the group’s Deputy Chair and Director of Design. Together they have given this long-established Milanese residence a serious glow-up, bringing its original character into a more contemporary setting.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Hotel Designs.
