Serenissima I: A Composed Interior
Stepping onboard Serenissima I brings an immediate sense of composure — an atmosphere shaped not by grandeur but by the measured orchestration of materials, light, and proportion. Launched in 2024 by Turkish yard Mengi Yay, the 47.5-metre yacht unfolds as a private retreat for ten guests, with five cabins crafted for quiet comfort. Designed inside and out by Nuvolari Lenard, with interiors led by Valentina Zannier’s creative direction, Serenissima I balances presence with restraint, echoing traditions of fine craftsmanship while moving to a distinctly modern rhythm.
Nuvolari Lenard is known for uniting fluid exterior profiles with interiors of quiet confidence, and here their language of proportion and detail finds full expression. Every gesture feels intentional, every transition measured.
Walnut sets the yacht’s material tone. It extends across floors and walls in a symphony of surfaces — curved panelling, fluted detailing, precision joinery — its natural grain enriched by bronze inlays. The palette deepens with Calacatta Borghini and brown Sequoia marble, alongside hand-stitched nubuck leather. Each surface contributes its own presence: walnut carrying warmth and continuity, marble a sense of permanence, leather a closeness to the hand. Together, they create a dialogue between nature’s raw elements and human craft.
Moments of discovery punctuate this warmth. The walk-in wine cellar — encased in luminous glass and lined with backlit onyx — reveals itself as an intimate sanctuary, more akin to a private library than a storage room. Here, bottles are not simply kept, but celebrated — illuminated, displayed, and ready to be shared in convivial moments. Beside it, a fold-down balcony hovers directly above the water, extending an invitation to pause at the ocean’s edge.
The spiral staircase, coiling like an unwound ribbon, becomes the yacht’s spine. Each riser is clad in hand-textured panels, while the handrail — wrapped in nubuck leather with meticulous stitching — grounds the gesture in quiet craftsmanship. More than circulation, the staircase choreographs the journey through the decks, its ribbon-like form guiding movement with grace. Bespoke wallpaper patterned with drifting leaves lends a sense of suspended movement, while leather-upholstered walls heighten the tactile intensity of the interiors.
Comfort is expressed with discretion: plush carpets soften each step, generous glazing dissolves the boundary with the seascape, furnishings are chosen for depth without insistence. The interiors do not seek spectacle; rather, they resonate — holding attention in the way a well-aged whisky lingers with complexity and character.
In a world where innovation is often measured by speed and scale, Serenissima I reminds us that interiors, too, shape the yachting experience — the quiet spaces where memory and atmosphere endure. Under Zannier’s vision, the yacht’s interiors speak in hushed tones of nature, craft, and elegance — conceived not for display, but for experience. These are spaces that invite pause, reward attention, and gently encourage the act of staying awhile.
Credits: Serenissima I was built by Mengi Yay, with exterior and interior design by Nuvolari Lenard under the creative direction of Valentina Zannier. At the time of publication, during the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show, the yacht was represented by Northrop & Johnson.