50 years of Sina Fine Italian Hotels celebrated with a new jewel: the Centurion Palace in Venice Founded in 1958 by Count Ernesto Bocca, Sina Fine Italian Hotels celebrates 50 years of hospitality and, for this important goal reached, organises a number of events which will culminate in the grand opening of the new 5 star hotel on the Grand Canal: the Centurion Palace. With nine hotels in the most important Italian destinations, one relais in the heart of Chianti and the new opening in Venice, Sina Fine Italian Hotels, presided over by Bernabò Bocca and by his sister Matilde, confirms to be a leading company in the Italian luxury hotel sector. It was in 1958 when the Count Ernesto Bocca, founder of the group Sina Fine Italian Hotels, stopped to admire the 18th Century façade of the Grand Hotel Villa Medici in Florence, Italy, without imagining his passion in arts will create a new concept of hospitality. Admirer of beauty, Count Bocca decided to acquire the historical residence to preserve and hand down the ancient art of hospitality. The building, thoroughly restored and provided with the most modern comforts, became a five star hotel which hosts sovereigns, aristocrats and world famous people. It immediately became famous hosting the Shah of Persia amd his wife Farah Diba during their trip to Italy.   This was the beginning of the great story of the SINA Hotel Group, one of the most prestigious Italian hotel chains. With a thorough research in Italy, the project to create a high class hotel group became within years reality. Very young, the son Bernabò and daughter Matilde, who inherited the same passion for elegance and taste, followed the same steps of the father. Step by step became part of the group other hotels: the historical Hotel Bernini Bristol in Rome, first hotel in Italy to have a hydraulic lift; the Astor in Viareggio, where the beautiful promenade and the breeze of the Versilia make unforgettable holidays all year long; the Brufani Palace in Perugia, Grand Hotel since 1883, favourite destination of HRH Queen Mother of Britain; the De la Ville in the heart of Milan; the Palace Maria Luigia in Parma, and his famous restaurant “Maxim’s”; the Palazzo Sant’Angelo on the Grand Canal in Venice. In 2003 The Gray in Milan, unique with its trendy and contemporary style, became part of the group’s portfolio Then the Relais Villa Matilde in Romano Canavese,  (21 miles from Turin), former residence of the Bocca family, now a wonderful, peaceful and relaxing resort surrounded by the Piedmontese countryside. But the Sina Fine Italian Hotels adventure continues and to celebrate at best its 50th Anniversary a new jewel will be added to the portfolio: the Centurion Palace in Venice, beautiful five star hotel with an original and modern style, on the Grand Canal next to the Guggenheim Museum where there is the new Museum of Contemporary Arts.