A Slower Guide to Milan and beyond with designer Maria Sole Ferragamo
There are people who carry a sense of stillness with them—who move through the world with attentiveness, who notice the details. Maria Sole Ferragamo is one of those people. A trained architect and the founder of the jewellery and accessories brand SO-LE Studio, she approaches design through the lens of texture, material, and light.
The granddaughter of Salvatore Ferragamo, Maria carries a legacy of craftsmanship and creativity—but her work is deeply personal, rooted in sustainability, sculpture, and slow design. She lives and works in Milan, a city she knows intimately—both as a local and a quiet observer of its rhythms.
In this conversation, we ask Maria to share a slower, more sensory map of Milan. The places she returns to when she needs to rest, to move gently, to feel inspired or healed. Less a travel guide, more an invitation into a softer way of seeing.
Where in Milan do you feel most grounded?
In the chaos of Milan, there are still a few quiet places where you can really disconnect. One of my favourites is a walk through the Brera Botanical Garden — it's quite hidden, and in spring the wisteria is just beautiful.
Another is having a coffee at Villa Necchi, notebook in hand, for a little time-travel escape into the 1930s.
Is there a place in the city where you love to eat something simple and nourishing?
I love having breakfast at Eutopia. Everything is prepared with care, using wholesome ingredients and very little refined sugar. The atmosphere is warm and calm — it helps me get into the right mindset to face even the busiest days.
What about movement—where do you go to feel at ease in your body?
A new studio recently opened near my home, it’s called The Room Studio, and I go first thing in the morning for a cycling class set to music. It’s where I go when I need to release some endorphins, clear my mind from the thousand thoughts I wake up with, and start the day full of energy.
When you feel the need to heal—emotionally, energetically—where do you turn?
Inside the Portrait hotel complex, where our flagship store is also located, the Longevity Spa recently opened. When I have the time, I treat myself to a massage, but even just a sauna or a few quiet laps back and forth in the pool help me reset.
Do you have a favourite place to retreat outside of Milan?
Just an hour and a half from Milan, in Val Seriana above Bergamo, there’s a truly special place. It’s called Contrada Bricconi — a farm and agriturismo that has brought new life to a once-abandoned mountain hamlet. Revived by the agricultural project, it’s now surrounded by meadows and pastures, and it offers a way of eating — and living — that feels unique and deeply rooted in the land.
Are there any Italian rituals or traditions that anchor you in your daily life?
One of my great passions: coffee. It’s such an Italian scent — from the traditions of Naples to the “caffè affogato” in Florence. What stays with me every single day is my morning Moka. I can’t wake up without it. It’s a true ritual: the water filled just right, the little mountain of coffee, the slow flame, and the quiet moment when the coffee begins to rise.
Where in Italy do you feel most creatively inspired?
There’s no place where creating feels more natural to me than in Tuscany. Among the artisans, in the factories, when I’m fully immersed in the heart of where all my creations begin. That’s how SO-LE STUDIO started — and it’s still the place where I feel most inspired by Italian excellence.
Can you share a sensory memory that’s stayed with you from one of these places?
I’ve developed a strong sense of smell — I often use it as a way to gather information when I’m encountering something new. So when I think of a sensory memory from these places, the first thing that comes to mind is the strong, raw smell of the leather I work with. On the other hand, there is the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked bread drifting from the bakeries when I arrive early in the morning. To me, it’s the most beautiful smell in the world!
Finally, what does ‘home’ feel like to you?
I need a sense of order to feel at home. So the first thing I do when I arrive somewhere — no matter how long I’m staying — is arrange the things I have with me in a way that feels aesthetically pleasing. Whether it’s just a few objects or many, creating beauty and harmony around me helps me feel grounded. It’s not about recreating a space: it’s about creating a feeling, even with just a notebook, a scarf, or a favourite scent.
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Interview by Anna Harding