Episode 2, Respiro
Maestros of the Riviera - Mussini
This season, through our Maestros of the Riviera series, we’re stepping outside our doors to celebrate the people who keep our coastal heritage alive.
The Miramare is only as vibrant as the community of makers that surrounds us. This season, through our Maestros of the Riviera series, we’re stepping outside our doors to celebrate the people who keep our coastal heritage alive.
Episode two is about the hands that shape the most iconic silhouettes in our harbor: Mussini. For over 70 years, the Mussini family has crafted the iconic boats that provide the Gulf of Tigullio with its unmistakable Estate Italiana character.
Water in the blood
Near Portofino, there is a place where the deep green of the hills meets the warm teak of a deck. This is the world of the Mussini Shipyard.
Founded by Giorgio Mussini, the yard was built on an artisanal philosophy that treats boatbuilding as an art form rather than an industry.
Giorgio was born into a family of Portofino fishermen. Growing up watching his father work as a skipper for the entrepreneurs who frequented the promontory, soon the sea became his blood.
After studying the first marine engines to understand their inner workings, Giorgio opened a storage yard in Rapallo, the first step in what would become a lifelong commitment to Liguria’s waterfront.
the gamble of1980
The turning point for the Mussini company came in 1980.
At a time when the world was pivoting toward the fiberglass boom and industrial mass production, Giorgio chose a different path: he decided to build a vessel entirely from wood, remaining faithful to a maritime culture based on balance, sensitivity and manual skill.
“When I decided to begin building my first boat, I remember how sceptical many people were, my wife, Marisa, included,” Giorgio recalls. “For me, this will forever be the biggest gamble I ever won.”
It resulted in the Utility Portofino - Mussini's first handcrafted boat built entirely from wood. The model would become a global benchmark for those who valued the unmistakable character and spirit of a handcrafted hull.
“If you love the sea, the allure and flavor transmitted by a wooden boat has no rivals. Wood is alive, its essence is intoxicating.”
Like father, like son
Around the same time, Giorgio’s son Gaetano started working alongside him.
Raised between the docks and the workshops, Gaetano brings a contemporary perspective to his father’s decades of experience, developing new models that offer greater comfort and autonomy without losing the shipyard’s signature character.
One such model is the Paraggina 10 which Gaetano designed in collaboration with the architect Edoardo Miola.
“The Paraggina 10 represents the fulfillment of one of my greatest wishes,” says Gaetano. “She’s an incredibly versatile boat. With a large bow sundeck and a wide customizable cockpit ideal for meals with friends, she’ll help you make the most of any day at sea.”
Life away from the dock
Beyond handcrafting new vessels, Mussini offers boat tours along the Riviera, often paired with the flavors of their own establishments. You might find yourself stepping off a Mussini deck and into Ö Magazín, their restaurant in the heart of Portofino, or stopping for a scoop at their gelateria, Calata 32.
The boats remain the stars though.
There is the Paraggina Tender Line which is based on the Paraggina 10. Its specific blend of speed and stability is designed for those who wish to reach the Cinque Terre or find a hidden cove.
Then there is the Corvetta 24, a timeless 7.5-meter model that has become a symbol of Portofino’s ‘dolce vita’. Safe even in choppy seas, it is the perfect choice for a quiet day navigating the natural beauty of our coastline.
A breath of fresh air
In a world that too often forgets the value of things made slowly, by hand and with heart, the Mussini legacy is one to be cherished.
When you see a wooden boat bobbing in the harbor, or feel the steady plane of a teak deck beneath you, you are catching a moment of respiro: a chance to breathe with the sea.
It is a reminder that while the world may rush, the most enduring things are those that take their time to arrive.
Looking after the Italian Riviera since 1903
Family is at the heart of the hotel - whether it’s the Fustinoni family or our family of staff - bringing an authenticity and comfort to every stay.
All served with a twist
“Above all, you must remain open and fresh and alive to any new idea.” Laurence Olivier (past Miramare guest).
Looking after the Italian Riviera since 1903
Family is at the heart of the hotel - whether it’s the Fustinoni family or our family of staff - bringing an authenticity and comfort to every stay.
All served with a twist
“Above all, you must remain open and fresh and alive to any new idea.” Laurence Olivier (past Miramare guest).
