Milan's Principe di Savoia's suites and bars have hosted all the coolest VIPs: sultans, royalty, top models, actors, politicians -- from Madonna to George Clooney, and recent protagonist of Sophia Coppola's Somewhere. Giovanni Santangeletta, ex-concierge boss of Principe's servicemen, spoke to Corriere della Sera about the strage habits and idiosyncrasies of former Principe guests and residents, including their escorts, prostitutes, friends, and personal drivers.
Giovanni recalled a quirk with pianist and former Principe guest, Vladimir Horowitz, calling it "almost mission impossible":
Horowitz could never sleep at night and he always wanted to watch movies, but only old Italian cop movies. For him I ransacked video stores. What a chore. I bothered the directors, actors and private collections.
Drifting off to sleep to the gentle lullaby of gunshots...