Ristorante San Domenico

Ristorante San Domenico sits on an area that was originally a Roman domus which extended in the zone that now hosts the convent complex of San Domenico. The complex was completed at the end of the 15th century and can be found in the map of the city of Imola designed by Leonardo da Vinci in 1501.

The exterior of the building is a background to the beautiful garden of the San Domenico complex, with an elegant restructured facade, painted in the color terra cotta.
Upon entering one finds an ample entrance hall which opens onto small rooms with small and distant tables, a grand room for banquets or groups that can hold up to 40 people, and a large sitting room for aperitifs or smoking pipes and cigars. In the various rooms the pavement is in Florentine tiles, with walls covered in fine linens and the ceiling and lampshades lined with decorated fabrics. The decoration is one of the most famous naturalistic designs created in the second half of the eighteenth century by William Morris. In the smaller lounges one can relax on sofas covered in “full flower” black leather or elegant Tonet armchairs based on the designs by Marcel Breur from the 1920’s.
Upon the tables one will find linen tablecloths and napkins in fuchsia tones, Riedel crystal glasses, Richard Ginori plates and dishes, underplates and all silverware in silver, just like the silver candleholders and flower vases. And of course, fresh flowers every day.
The rest of the building holds ample restrooms containing beautiful ceramic hand painted tiles from the company Musa of Rome, along with the grand kitchen subdivided in its various parts, and the offices.

Photo credit: Gianni Renna, Isola Press, Photo Olimpia, Gabriele Angelini, Ermes Ricci (Pasticcio), Roberto Maiolini.