HISTORY OF VERSACE Gianni Versace S.p.A. is an international fashion house based in Milan, Italy. Gianni Versace (1946-1997) was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy. He grew up surrounded by a strong ancient-Greek cultural influence, which was present in Reggio through the region's architecture, sculpture and mosaics. This influence greatly inspired his expression of fashion. The company's corporate logo, the Greek mythological figure of Medusa was featured in a sculpture in the Versace family garden and it is a valid example of how culture and heritage have become integral and significant parts of the Versace brand identity. The Medusa features prominently around Palazzo Versace.

Gianni Versace presented his first fashion collection in Milan in 1978. By the early 1980's he was already internationally renowned for his stunning creations and breaking new ground in the fashion world. His vision was forever undeterred, continually creating headlines with his "dare to be different" approach, yet underlying style and elegance. Gianni Versace's vision and collections greatly influenced the creation of Palazzo Versace and his passion and involvement with the theatre is reflected in the display of photography and artwork throughout the hotel.

Upon Gianni's death in 1997, Donatella Versace introduced her own modern style to the Versace brand. Just as Gianni's passion for theatre, opera and ballet was embodied in his designs, Donatella has embraced and extended Versace's tie to the arts through her love of contemporary music. Santo Versace, Gianni's older brother, ensures, as chairman of the Versace group, the financial and commercial solidity required for the continued growth of the company. He has visited Palazzo Versace a number of times and is very pleased with the result. He regularly motivates staff with the reminder that "Versace has only one level and that is the best".

THE CREATION OF PALAZZO VERSACE The world's first Palazzo Versace is an avant-garde hotel concept combining design features from the opulent Renaissance palaces of Europe and the classical architecture. Combine this with the highest level of décor and ambience created by Europe's eminent lifestyle brand,Versace, and you have a hotel comparable to the best in the world.

Palazzo Versace opened on 15 September 2000. The similarities between the hotel and traditional palace design can be seen with the opulent foyer and dining areas, representing the meeting places of the palace, while the accommodation in the left and right wings ('Ala Sinistra' and 'Ala Destra') represent the palace residences.

TRANSLATION

Palazzo translates to 'Palace' in Italian

Versace a multi-faceted brand where culture and heritage combine with innovation and creation.

 

INTERESTING FEATURES OF PALAZZO VERSACE

THE DRIVEWAY The mosaic in the driveway of Palazzo Versace is the second largest pebble mosaic in the world. The largest is outside Parliament House in Rome. The Palazzo Versace mosaic was created by five Italian master tilers with an average age of 65 years. Each tiler was from a different region of Italy and handpicked pebbles from their local region. The mosaic took six weeks to complete.

THE CHANDELIER The magnificent chandelier in the foyer of the Palazzo Versace once hung in the State Library of Milan. It was purchased by Gianni Versace to place in one of his villas - unfortunately he died before he had the chance to enjoy it. The chandelier weighs a massive 750kg and an extra support beam was built into the foyer ceiling to secure it.

MARBLE FLOORS All of the marble used at Palazzo Versace was imported from Carrara, Italy. The blue marble in the mosaics is from Brazil and is one of the most rare and therefore expensive marbles in the world.

SWIMMING POOLS Five shallow lagoons surround the hotel. The man-made beach has sand from Surfers Paradise beaches. The lagoon is 65 metres long and contains over 1.2 million litres of salt-chlorinated water. It is heated to a comfortable 25 degrees centigrade.

CUTLERY AND CHINA One of the luxurious experiences of dining at Palazzo Versace is eating and drinking from Versace homeware. All of the china and cutlery used throughout the resort is from a limited edition Versace Line and is imported from Europe. Many items are available for sale in the Gianni Versace Boutique

 

INTERESTING FEATURES OF PLAZZO VERSACE

ATTENTION TO DETAIL As guests walk through the resort, they will notice features being mirror-imaged on floors and ceilings. Dr Santo Versace explains, "Everywhere the eye looks must see a feature."

ARTWORK AND PHOTOGRAPHY Palazzo Versace's signature restaurant,Vanitas, features a 13-metre canvas painting that represents the life of Gianni Versace. The painting illustrates the loves of Gianni's life and was inspired by his book Do Not Disturb. The hallways of the resort are lined with framed photography from Gianni and Donatella's collection.

The sketches on the corridor walls of Palazzo Versace are related to theatrical productions for which Gianni Versace created the costumes.The signature that you see on all the drawings "Werner" is the signature of an artist that worked for the Versace company for many years, whose full name was Werner Bernskotter and who died in 1991.

"All the world is a stage". No one believed or lived this aphorism from Shakespeare more fully than Gianni Versace. Creating costume for daily life and for special occasions was a job that Gianni Versace knew well, but his version of daily life was so spectacular, as if planned for the stage rather than the street, that there is little difference between the theatre designer that he became for opera and ballet, and his sensibility for every day's fashion.

 

ACCOMMODATION: Palazzo Versace features 205 luxury international hotel rooms as well as 72 two and three bedroom self-contained luxury condominiums.

Room Facilities: Each room is luxuriously appointed in Versace homeware and accessories. All rooms feature a spa-bath, private bar (complete with Versace crystal), tea and coffee making facilities (complete with Versace china), turndown service, Sony Playstation and Internet access. Bathroom facilities include complimentary miniatures of men's and women's Versace fragrances and complimentary slippers.

A private butler service and assistance with packing and unpacking is provided upon request along with an array of other personal services. More than 100 rooms at Palazzo Versace are dedicated as non-smoking rooms.

 

FOOD & BEVERAGE Stylish, elegant, relaxed and creative are just some of the terms to describe dining at the internationally acclaimed Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast.

Palazzo Versace has a choice of three restaurants as well as a lobby lounge and a pool bar for light snacks and refreshments.

Il Barocco - All Day Dining

Il Barocco is stylish, elegant and relaxed. The restaurant overlooks the lagoon swimming pool and is open for breakfast (buffet), lunch (à la carte) and dinner (buffet and a la carte).

Vanitas (Latin for Vanity) An exercise in opulence, this fine-dining restaurant in the sumptuous Palazzo Versace is in a league of its own… Produce comes from all over the country, wherever the best is found; Northern Rivers rabbit,West Australian marron and Lockyer Valley beef. Flavours are intense and wildly rich.The room has views which sweep through the resort to the lagoon and beyond. Smart service and an extensive wine list featuring an excellent range of top Australian, Italian and French drops complete the picture.

Vie Restaurant + Bar Thoroughly elegant. Vie wraps around one corner of the Palazzo Versace complex and has unparalleled views of the sparkling marina. Shades of stone set off gloss and steel, and a clever layout makes the many sections work in harmony. The bar is glassed off from the main restaurant, the lounge is in one corner, opening on to a deck, and a private dining area is in a secluded corridor. Expect only the finest ingredients, beautifully prepared but not overworked - boneless spatchcock and Moreton Bay Bug salad, quesadilla of spicy lamb and beef and a strong wine list that easily lives up to the food.

Le Jardin A chic cosmopolitan bar and meeting place serving cocktails, drinks and coffee. Le Jardin is the perfect meeting place for morning or afternoon tea or champagne.

 

CONFERENCE, MEETING & EVENT FACILITIES Palazzo Versace has a choice of six conference areas to cater for meetings of 12 to 600 people. The hotel specialises in providing small personal touches such as providing complimentary chair covers and offering conference groups fresh juice and lavenderscented refreshment towels on arrival. A 24-hour business centre is also available.

 

SPA FACILITIES

The Palazzo Versace Spa is called Salus Per Aquum (Health through Water). Whether a guest is an ironman or a new mum learning baby massage - the Salus Per Aquum offers something for everyone.

Like all of the facilities at Palazzo Versace, Salus Per Aquum takes a personalised approach to fitness, beauty and well-being services.

The European-style spa offers personal training, yoga, tai chi, hydrotherapy, beauty and massage treatments, a hairdressing salon (with massaging chairs), heated indoor swimming pool, spa and steam rooms.

Corporate and Executive programmes include team building events such as beach Olympics conducted by actual lifesavers, seminar presentations on lifestyle and nutrition as well as tips on stress management.

 

SHOPPING The Gianni Versace Boutique, located on the hotel's ground floor, offers a full range of Versace accessories, makeup, homeware, wallets, handbags, costume jewellery, scarves, fragrances and shoes as well as clothing from a variety of Versace ranges.

 

MARINA Palazzo Versace features a private 90-berth marina. The marina has one of the best positions on the Gold Coast with deep-water clear access to the seaway and the Pacific Ocean.

The Palazzo Versace marina has berths ranging from 11 metres to 32 metres. It also features single-phase to threephase electricity, phone outlets and walkway lighting. Boats can be moored at the Palazzo Versace marina while owners enjoy the hotel's restaurants, health club and other facilities.

The Palazzo Versace marina is open seven days a week and has 24-hour security. Marina staff are available to assist vessels and their crew. Half day, daily, weekly, monthly, casual and full-time berthing options are available

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