Cova, which opened in 1817 beside the famous "La Scala" theatre, was founded by Antonio Cova, a soldier of Napoleon who first 'campaigned' as a pastry chef in the Galleria De Cristoforis.

From the outset the establishment became an after-theatre rendezvous for actors, writers, musicians, professors and public figures. A highly select clientele indeed frequented Cova's locale: the cream of urbane, aristocratic society who enjoyed meeting to comment on operas and performances and discuss political issues over coffee and mouth-watering pastries.
A retreat for members of high-society whose elegant conversation played out to the accompaniment of wistful violins and velvety flutes, they sat around its tables savouring cocktails and debating the "making of Italy".
The cafè played a leading role in the Five Days of Milan insurrection as a meeting place for patriots who would bring about the expulsion of the Austrians in March 184.

The "Cova" and "La Scala" theatre were among the buildings damaged during the W.W.II bombings of 1943. But there was an air of regeneration and joy at the Cova, and in 1950 the celebrated Café moved to premises in via Monte Napoleone.

Now an in-vogue venue combining art, work and pleasure in a warm, suffused atmosphere, a meeting place not only for the townspeople of Milan but also for an international clientele where an espresso coffee or a tea savoured in the comfort of a neo-classical lounge has become a mainstay of high-society life.

In the nineties, Cova exported its tradition abroad into new cultures as far afield as Asia.

In 1994 Cova inaugurated its first Café-Restaurant in Hong Kong, followed later by several "pastry boutiques" which, due to traditional pastries and impeccable hall-mark Italian service, rapidly enjoyed success in the Far East.

In one of the world's largest shopping malls, a huge complex in a modern, technological architectural style, Cova began serving its classic espresso, soon becoming an institution. Success came just as quickly for the Cova restaurants offering the best in Italian cuisine served in an atmosphere reminiscent of the Milan establishment.

Since 1997 Cova sails daily on board nine five-star showcase vessels of the renowned American company Celebrity Cruises, a fleet of ultramodern liners featuring unprecedented comfort, facilities and attention to detail.

In a boundless range of interiors evoking authentic cinema settings, cruising seas from the tropical Caribbean to Mexico, or from South America to the Far North, as far as the frozen pack of Alaska, passengers can enjoy the pleasure of a cappuccino that is perfection itself.

Now into the 21st century, still at the heart of cosmopolitan trends, current affairs and an expression of a continuously developing Milan, Cova offers a vast range of high-level, dedicated services.
Excelling as a provider of catering services for leading ateliers, elaborate coffee-breaks for high-profile businessmen to fairy-tale wedding receptions and unforgettable ceremonies, Cova caters for the most important occasions for the international jet-set.

Through the expert hands of executive pastry chefs working to time-honoured recipes, on a daily basis Cova makes unique cakes, fancy pastries, pralines and bonbons from premium quality ingredients to offer a rich assortment of exquisite confectionery.

Cova is chosen by high-ranking restaurants which offer their guests fine delicacies comprising a wide range of custom pralines to make their stay even more enjoyable.

Its modern laboratory and confectionery department each year turn out fresh ideas that interpret current trends while embracing what is most traditional and appealing in the Milanese lifestyle.

In the beating heart of the historical centre of a Milan, which is at once the capital city of fashion and finance, Cova remains a milestone marking both unchanging tradition and on-going evolution, testimony to how the finest customs stand the test of time.
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