Four Seasons Portofino: Bill Gates Buys Castello di San Giorgio

Bill Gates, owner of Four Seasons, has bought Portofino Castle (Castello di San Giorgio), with the goal of converting it to a Four Seasons hotel. The castle, situated high above the harbor on a site that was used for military defense from Roman times, enjoys an enviable position and panoramic views. It's located about a 25 minute walk from The Splendido and an 8 minute walk from The Splendido Mare, both Belmond properties and the only other true luxury hotels in Portofino. While a renovation timeline and opening date haven't been announced, it could be the 6th Four Seasons in Italy, after Four Seasons Firenze in Florence, Four Seasons Milan, San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel, Four Seasons Puglia, and Four Seasons Rome.

Four Seasons Portofino: Bill Gates Buys Portofino Castle

The nearly 13,000 sq. ft. castle, which was turned into a luxury villa in the late 19th century by an English diplomat, today houses 12 apartments, with a private elevator that takes guests down to the beach below the castle. The insurance company that Gates purchased the castello from, for ~$60 million dollars, had been renting out the property for weddings and private events.

Portofino, a picturesque former fishing village that became popular as an exclusive resort town in the early 1900s and was especially popular among celebrities 1960-1990s. More recently it's calmer and classier than during some of those heady years, which most locals and visitors appreciate, although it's still a very exclusive destination, expect premium pricing during the late spring and summer.

It's unusual for Four Seasons to own outright any of its properties (as with most hotel companies, it's asset-light, with management contracts), but it appears that Portofino Castle, as a uniquely attractive building, is an exception, along with the Palazzo Marini which is to become the Four Seasons Rome, near the Trevi Fountain.