The Corriere della Sera revealed that the Lvmh group has purchased Casa degli Atellani, which houses Leonardo's Vineyard in Corso Magenta in Milan. Casa degli Atellani has thus changed hands, from the descendants of entrepreneur and senator Ettore Conti (1871-1972) and Piero Portaluppi (1888-1967) to the Lvmh group of Frenchman Bernard Arnault, the richest man in the world with his 169.8 billion euros in assets. It is currently unknown what use Lvmh will make of the property. Casa degli Atellani, which was restored in the last century by architect Piero Portaluppi, houses the vineyard that, in the late 15th century, Ludovico il Moro gave to Leonardo, who was painting The Last Supper in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, just across the street. The rows that disappeared over the centuries were reconstructed thanks to the work of experts and academics in 2014 and inaugurated the following year, for Expo 2015. It is the only vineyard in the world that still exists in the center of a metropolis, and it has produced the same malmsey since Leonardo’s age. Currently, Casa degli Atellani - much loved by fashion brands, who from Dior to Swarovski have chosen it for their events, and four years ago Dolce & Gabbana organized a memorable haute couture show there - is open to the public for visits and also for short stays for rent (six apartments, at sky-high prices).
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