Parties You Will Never Get Into

For the luxury empire Bulgari, all roads indeed led to Rome. But they did not lead to just anywhere. Celebrities and society types jetted for dinner May 19, 2009 to Castel Sant’Angelo, a second-century fortress in Rome.

Nicola Bulgari, the company chair, heralded the affair with “Between History & Eternity,” an exhibition of the brand’s most famous jewelry since 1884. Over 1,400 guests marveled at the baubles, showcased in six lacquered black rooms at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni. The most impressive included an American flag-inspired choker, a 321-karat sapphire, and a giant emerald brooch given by Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor.

Guests moved thereafter to the Castel Sant’Angelo, at whose courtyard a live orchestra played. Zucchini, fried mozzarella balls, and other dishes wound its way among moneyed names like Cameron Silver, Carla Fendi, Santo Versacé, Ferruccio Ferragamo, Ilaria Ferragamo, and Margherita Maccapani Missoni. All the while, a Fabrizio Ferri tribute to Bulgari played on a flat-screen monitor.

High society literally went higher later, as the celebration progressed to a candlelit Roman buffet atop the fortress. Gina Lollobrigida rose from the courtyard’s lone seat to join Patricia Field, Fern Mallis, and the rest of the attendees in the ascent to the feast. Spectacular vistas of Rome and the Tiber rewarded the climbers.

Roman mayor Gianni Alemanno continued socializing in a crowd that included Hollywood actors Chloë Sevigny, Jessica Alba, Selma Blair, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Lewis, and Alain Delon. Diners guzzled cocktails, wines, and sparkling water. Into the wee hours, DJs upped the dinner’s hedonism factor with high-energy sets.

Bulgari’s 125th anniversary dinner also celebrated its philanthropic campaign with Save the Children, called “Rewrite The Future.” The project expects to raise €10 million for the charity by 2010, with hopes of educating eight million destitute children.