Manolo Blahnik and the Map of Milan: The City Through the Eyes of the Master

In “Manolo's Maps,” the legendary designer shares his favorite spots in London, Paris, New York, and Milan—the city that has just welcomed him with his largest European store.

There’s a new way to explore Milan: through the eyes—and in the shoes—of Manolo Blahnik. The master shoemaker has launched “Manolo’s Maps,” a personal guide to the four cities that have shaped his life: London, Paris, New York, and, of course, Milan.

Credits IG @manoloblahnik

A Sentimental Geography.

“These are cities that have opened doors for me, where I’ve met some of my dearest friends and collaborators: they are my playgrounds and my artistic education,” says Blahnik. In London, there’s the tiny shop on Old Church Street where it all began over 55 years ago; in Paris, a trail of historic cafés; in New York, the museums that inspired some of his most iconic creations. And in Milan, a personal journey through the architecture, galleries, and spots in the city center that the designer has frequented for decades.

Credits IG @manoloblahnik

The Milan Chapter.

The map of Milan arrives at a time that is anything but coincidental: the brand has just opened its first Italian store—and its largest in Europe—at Via Pietro Verri 5, in the heart of the Quadrilatero. Three hundred square meters spread over two floors open to the public, a project in the works for years and curated by Kristina Blahnik, the CEO with a background in architecture, in collaboration with the Nick Leith-Smith studio: graphic black-and-white interiors punctuated by bold furnishings in primary colors.