Monza
DESTINATION GUIDE
Steeped in racing history and bursting with atmosphere with Milan nearby, Monza is a must-visit for any Formula 1 fan. With so much happening on and off the track, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your trip to the Temple of Speed...
HIGHLIGHTS
Located in the beautiful Parco di Monza, the largest walled park in Europe and just 10 minutes by train from Italy’s stylish fashion capital Milan, it’s the perfect Grand Prix to visit for a dose of late summer sunshine, incredible food, and F1 fervour courtesy of the world renowned Tifosi.
The park spans over 600 hectares, and was commissioned by Napoleon in 1805 with the intention of creating a model agricultural estate and hunting reserve within its walls. Enjoy the many tranquil paths on foot or by bike and stop for a customary afternoon espresso at one of the many cafes dotted throughout the park.
As well as the F1 circuit, the park is also home to the stunning Villa Reale di Monza (Royal Villa) once the summer residence of the Italian royal family and which now has 28 opulent rooms open to the public, along with 40 hectares of formal gardens and large variety of centuries old trees.
Pierre Gasly made the cosmopolitan city of nearby Milan his home and explains what makes it such a special place to live.
“Milan is a great city – I love the food and to walk around the parks and beautiful streets," he says.
“People coming to Milan should walk around the city, visit around the Duomo, go to Brera… Navigli in the south, which is a student area and has nice restaurants and bars, and if you like fashion there are a few very cool shops too.”
Asked to sum up the city in just three words, Gasly says, “Milan is iconic, gastronomic and… fashion!”
With its dazzling Duomo, stylish boutiques and gallerias and reputation as the fashion and design capital of Italy, Milan is a vibrant city full of culture and history. Take in a performance at the world-renowned 18th century Teatro alla Scala which has played host to some of the greatest opera singers and performers in the world including Maria Callas who made her official debut on La Scala’s stage in 1951, before making the theatre her artistic home throughout the decade.
“People coming to Milan should walk around the city, visit around the Duomo, go to Brera… Navigli in the south, which is a student area and has nice restaurants and bars, and if you like fashion there are a few very cool shops too.”
PIERRE GASLY
Heralded as one of the most impressive examples of gothic architecture in the world, the stunning Duomo di Milano is a vision in pink Candoglia marble that was 600 years in the making, adorned with 135 fairytale spires and an astonishing 3,400 statues.
Leonardo da Vinci’s fresco of The Last Supper is one of the renaissance artist’s most celebrated works and was painted on a wall of the Santa Maria delle Grazie church and convent in Milan.
It is now a UNESCO world heritage site and a hugely popular visitor attraction, which means that it is essential to book tickets in advance if you want to view this 15th century masterpiece.
Take a trip to Lake Como just 30 miles from Monza, and live ‘la dolce vita’ by taking to the sparkling water in a motorboat as you gaze at the exquisitely beautiful palatial villas on the shores of the lake before stopping off at one of the many lakeside eateries for lunch.
You may even spot the odd Hollywood star, as actor George Clooney has a home here and has been known to host many of his famous friends at the lake.
The lively Navigli district of the city is now all that’s left of Milan’s once extensive canal network, and where chairs and tables are dragged outside as the sun sets and locals flock to the many canal-side bars to chew over the day with, of course, an aperitivo in hand.
If more racing action is your thing, then Tiscali Kart Track is located inside the iconic Curva Parabolica at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, meaning you can test your driving skills within sight of one the most famous corners in the world and soak up the history of this iconic circuit as you do battle against your rivals.
With its long and illustrious history of racing and beautiful parkland setting which comes into its own in the low late summer sun and ethereal morning mists, there is nowhere quite like the Italian Grand Prix to witness thrilling track action surrounded by the infectious Italian passion of the Tifosi.
FUN FACT
Risotto alla Milanese is one of Milan’s most iconic dishes, but its golden hue has legendary origins. In 1574, a stained-glass apprentice nicknamed "Zafferano" added saffron—used for colouring glass—into risotto at his wedding as a joke. Guests loved the flavour, and the dish quickly became a beloved staple, forever linking saffron with Milanese culinary tradition.
WHAT TO EAT
Make sure you come to Monza hungry, as gastronomy is religion here and you are never more than a few steps away from delicious Italian food. It’s a little-known fact that Italy is the largest producer of rice in Europe and the region of Lombardy, where Milan and Monza are situated, is nicknamed ‘the rice bowl of Europe’.
One of the very best places to try the iconic Milanese staple - risotto alla Milanese - is Savini restaurant in the heart of the city, an elegantly opulent space harking back to the glamorous Belle Epoque era.
Frequented by celebrated luminaries from the worlds of art, literature and music over its 156-year history, it's situated in one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious shopping arcades, the beautiful domed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele ll, located opposite the Duomo di Milano.
