"Regina d'Italia": Stefano Gabbana creates 65-metre Codecasa as a tribute to Italy

When the glass door to the saloon opens aft on the main deck, it seems as if a curtain opens to reveal a catwalk: A long, dark blue carpet stretches across the teak floor through the vestibule and into the large saloon. How could it be any different on a fashion designer's yacht? The 65-metre-long "Regina d'Italia", which Codecasa built in 2019, belongs to none other than Stefano Gabbana, who founded the Dolce & Gabbana fashion label together with Domenico Dolce in 1985.

Salon on board the "Regina d'Italia" imitates the underwater world

The deep blue walls in the entrance area are gently curved, with fish, jellyfish and corals everywhere. The saloon itself extends across almost the entire width of the hull, and the yacht's volume of 1,300 gross tonnes is clearly noticeable here. Two blue semi-circular sofas face each other and form the centre, flanked on the left and right by two further benches that offer a view of the sea through the high windows. Recurring elements run through the entire interior, which Stefano Gabbana created together with the Milan design studio M2 Atelier. The round carpet and side tables are also adorned with sea creatures, which can also be found on the Fornasetti dining table and the wall, which is used as storage space, and are reflected in the ceiling. The eleven charter guests get the feeling of living underwater on all levels. The baroque-style chairs with leopard print provide a harmonious contrast to the calm, deep blue colour scheme.

Expression of Italian body language

From the saloon, the path leads to the lobby. The mirrored lift, which looks like a gateway to another world, takes owners and guests quickly to each deck. If you follow the corridor a little further, you will find the first bathroom. "A special dark blue marble from Brazil was chosen here," explains Marco Vandoni, broker at Ocean Independence, who guides visitors around the yacht owned by the owner from Milan. The bronze door handles and fittings are shaped like hands - they show iconic Italian gestures that stand out clearly in the dark surroundings. They are probably the most playful and striking design element on board the "Regina d'Italia". They are not just intended as a piece of jewellery, but as an expression of Italian body language. As Stefano Gabbana told the lifestyle magazine "Pursuit" in an interview: "Our collections are not just fashion creations - they tell Italian stories, memories, symbols and culture." This style is visible even in the smallest details of the interior.

The hallway unfolds like a dark labyrinth with mirrored ceiling and wall elements. Fortunately, however, only one path leads to the owner's flat at the front of the yacht. Two suites were originally planned here. "We merged the two cabins into one in 2020," says Marco Vandoni about the refit. The result is a suite with 110 square metres of space that makes full use of the yacht's width of 11.20 metres. The bed is positioned in the centre of the room and its dimensions far exceed those of a king-size bed. Mirrored ceilings and wall elements draw the blue of the ocean into the suite and lend the rooms an illusion of depth. On either side of the washbasin, mirrored doors with large bronze hands as door handles lead into the starboard and port bathrooms. When both doors are opened, the rooms behind them glow in dark blue marble.

"Ma che vuoi?"

Back in the lobby, bronze hands on the handrail point the way down the stairs to the lower deck, where up to eight guests can reside. Four symmetrical suites have been planned for the VIP area: two double cabins at the front and two rooms with queen-size beds at the back. Bronze fittings also play a role in the bathrooms, which are clad in light blue Brazilian marble. In a VIP bathroom, the fingertips touch and obviously represent one of the most famous hand gestures in Italy. It stands for "Ma che vuoi?" and can be translated as "What do you want?". Depending on the context, this symbolises impatience or confusion. In another guest bathroom, the hands on the washbasin show the peace symbol and symbolise peace. In contrast, the middle finger stretches upwards on the other side. If guests take the lift up two decks, they reach the Skylounge with its spectacular views. Here, too, the ceilings above the long sofas reflect the ocean.

The dining area opens out aft with a tabletop made from the same blue marble as in the guest bathrooms. Golden details, for example in the form of massive drinking goblets, set it apart. The crew like to serve a digestif or sundowner in the adjoining sofa lounge. The foredeck, on the other hand, is more functional. A large storage space can be opened hydraulically to reveal the crane, which rotates to either side. It manoeuvres water toys such as Seadoos and Seabobs into the water.

A spaceship for the captain of the "Regina d'Italia"

On the bridge, visitors land directly in the scenery of a spaceship, Marco Vandoni aptly chooses the adjective "minimalist" here. Three free-standing consoles with multifunctional displays give the captain and his team plenty of room to move around - and an unobstructed 180-degree view. The two Caterpillar engines are controlled from here, accelerating the RINA-certified 65 metres to a maximum of 18.5 knots with 1,471 kilowatts of power. The cruising speed is 15 knots. The fuel tank holds 160,000 litres of diesel, allowing the Queen to travel up to 4,300 nautical miles at 13 knots. The fresh water tanks also hold 35,000 litres so that the fashion designer's displacer can set off for distant destinations at any time. CAT generators (2 x 218 kW and 1 x 164 kW) ensure smooth hotel operations at all times. Codecasa equipped "Regina d'Italia" with zero-speed stabilisers, which operate almost silently and reduce rolling movements underway and at anchor. While the captain works on the bridge and spends the night behind it, the crew of 15 retreats to two lounges and three mess rooms on the lower deck. Behind them are seven cabins with double beds, while the Chief Engineer benefits from a single cabin. The functional galley has been placed on the upper deck to ensure professional logistics and at the same time maximise the privacy of the owners and guests.

Guests train under a dome

The sun deck is a great place to spend the whole day. Eight teak deckchairs invite you to sunbathe, while guests can cool off in the seven-metre-long pool, whose basin is adorned with artistic marble mosaic tiles. A teak surround adds a touch of warmth to the cool design. An automatic refill system keeps the pool water at the right level and thus saves water resources. A few steps lead from the pool terrace to the gym, which has everything you need for TRX training and various strength exercises. A dome in the ceiling expands the airy space and provides additional height so that guests can safely work out while jumping rope. A bar opens up aft - here, too, fish and other sea creatures adorn the walls and bar stools. To dive into the real underwater world, guests head to the bathing platform, where the tender garage with access to the engine room is also located. The extendable platform makes it easier to jump into the cool water. Anyone wishing to travel in the footsteps of a design icon currently has the chance to do so. Ocean Independence lists "Regina d'Italia" for 54 million euros.

Technical data

• Total length: 65,00 m
• Waterline length: 53,30 m
• Width: 11,20 m
• Depth: 3,30 m
• Gross tonnage: 1,300 GT
• Displacement: 970 tonnes
• Hull / superstructure: Steel / Aluminium
• Motors: 2 x Caterpillar 3516B DITA, 2000 hp
• Generators: 3 x CAT (2 x 218 kW, 1 x 164 kW)
• travelling speed: 15 knots
• Maximum speed: 18.5 knots
• Range: 4,300 nautical miles at 13 knots
• Naval architecture: Cantieri Navali Codecasa S.p.A.
• Exterior design: Cantieri Navali Codecasa S.p.A.
• Interior design: M2 Atelier / Stefano Gabbana
• Price: 54,000,000 euros