What Pierre Gasly would do in Milan over the weekend
F1 racer Pierre Gasly adores Milan’s cutting-edge fashion scene. Here are his top weekend recommendations, which include strolling his puppy through Parco Sempione and shopping in Quadrilatero della moda.
Life on the BWT Alpine F1 squad is as fast-paced as a circuit lap for pilot Pierre Gasly.
Milan over the weekend, having a strong home base is crucial.
Gasly relocated to Milan, the chic financial hub of Italy, in 2019. Gasly states, “I moved practically three months before I won the Italian Grand Prix.” “I did not have to travel to any airports or take any flights. I just got in my car and drove home, only to wake up in my bed on Monday morning as the winner of an F1 race. After all the feelings, I felt like I had a unique bond with both my flat and the city. I adore this location.”
But Gasly’s connection to modern, edgy Milan, a huge city with magnificent Gothic and Renaissance architecture and old Celtic origins, goes beyond only the nostalgic recollection of victory. “I am from the city,” he claims. “I must sense the action. Although Milan is a large city, it is not as congested as New York, London, or Paris. It takes 20 to 25 minutes to cross town. I adore fashion; it is so big. You have one fantastic stadium and two football teams. There are a ton of alternatives available to me whenever my girlfriend and I decide to go out to supper, and the food is excellent—very pure and healthful. All of my favorite things in life are combined here. I think living here is fantastic.”
Because of its close proximity to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza track, home of the Italian Grand Prix, Milan benefits greatly from being a major Formula One city. Milano Centro, located in the medieval city of Monza, is just a nine-minute train trip away. According to Gasly, “it is ingrained in the people’s DNA.” “Very similar to a religion. The atmosphere in Monza is quite special on race day. The grandstands are humming with excitement when so many supporters turn out.”
Here are Gasly’s top picks for spending a weekend in Milan, his hometown.
- The best to wow visitors from out of town are Navigli and il Duomo
With 88 bustling neighborhoods, a staggering 182 square kilometers of museums, opulent shops, and striking layers of architectural history ranging from Etruscan ruins to modern Italian skyscrapers, Milan can be daunting for first-time visitors. However, Gasly knows precisely where to go to show them his chosen hometown.
He responds, “I take them right to the Duomo.” “Even after seeing it maybe a hundred times, I still stand in front of it in amazement every time.”
Constructed gradually between 1386 and 1906, the Duomo di Milano church is the biggest Gothic building in Italy. Surrounded by a broad piazza that serves as a playground for pigeons and street performers, the cathedral is crowned by a bronze figure of the Madonnina (Virgin Mary) from the 18th century. The 19th-century covered shopping mall Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is located next to the square. Its ceiling features a kaleidoscope of stained glass and wrought iron. The old retail store Rinascente is only 140m distant. Milan over the weekend
“Architecture is something I adore. According to Gasly, “I believe the Duomo is an excellent illustration.” It is enormous and incredibly lovely. The Galleria and Rinascente as a whole will occupy a significant portion of your afternoon. Of course, there are visitors there, but even after years of living here, I still enjoy going there to hang out. Take a stroll, stop for an aperitivo, and do some shopping. It truly is lovely, in my opinion.”
In addition, Gasly takes pals to Navigli, the “Venice of Milan,” a trendy neighborhood known for its vibrant nightlife and divided by two charming canals. He acknowledges, “It is not that easy for me to go there because I will have people stopping me. [Navigli] attracts] students that follow athletics.” “But I really enjoy going there with a cap and sunglasses. You have a lot of small bars. A few pretty excellent stores as well.”
The ideal place to shop is Quadrilatero della moda.
It should come as no surprise that Gasly enjoys living in Italy’s fashion capital, given his self-confessed passion for the industry. According to Gasly, “[The Milanesi] love their suits.” “When I initially arrived here with my family, I exclaimed to them, ‘How come everyone looks so beautiful?’ Each and every guy and lady was immaculately attired. They work really hard to ensure that they look fantastic. And the reason I appreciate it so much is that it sets a standard: in order to fit in, you have to take care of yourself.”
Designer stores and independent boutiques abound in Milan; Gasly frequently stumbles upon up-and-coming designers “simply walking my dog along places I typically do not go down.” However, the speedster is most frequently found in Milan’s fashion district, or Quadrilatero della moda, so named because it connects four of the city’s most prominent shopping avenues. “You can stroll around there and find every brand you can imagine,” adds Gasly. “It is pedestrian streets.” “You have everything, which is kind of great, like Via Montenapoleone with all the big names.”
