Exploring Monza - Fun activities at the Italian Grand Prix

The Italian Grand Prix is one of the most historic races on the Formula 1 calendar. Held each year at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, in close proximity to Milan, this race is also considered the home of the oldest surviving F1 team, Scuderia Ferrari. True to its rich history, the Italian Grand Prix is surrounded by a number of historic sites and plenty of attractions for race attendees to explore.

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Exploring Milan

Although the Italian Grand Prix is situated in the small town of Monza, many visitors of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza will find themselves traveling to and from the city of Milan, Italy. Milan has a vast range of culture, history and shopping to offer its visitors, so these are just a few highlights:

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Duomo di Milano

Starting off in the Piazza del Duomo, or ‘Cathedral Square’, is a great place to grab a coffee or have lunch during a day in Milan.  On the Italian Grand Prix race weekend, you’ll likely see many Scuderia Ferrari events and merch pop-ups - even an appearance from a member of the team. If you’re ready for a climb after your morning espresso- overlooking the square is the Duomo di Milano. This building stands 108 meters above the Milan skyline and was originally erected in 1386. There are many different types of passes ranging from 8€ for entry to 30€ for tours and other buildings attached to the Duomo. One thing to keep in mind: there are ticket tiers for elevators and stairs… so book wisely!

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See the 'Last Supper'

This mural is considered one of the most culturally significant pieces of art in the world. Housed at Santa Maria delle Grazie, da Vinci’s piece depicts Christ with his Apostles and is one of the most recognisable pieces of art in history. If you’re attending the Italian Grand Prix, make sure to book tickets to see the Last Supper well in advance as passes sell out quickly!

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Shopping in the 'Fashion Capitol'

Milan absolutely known for the Italian Grand Prix weekend, but even more well known for its shopping and fashion. Milan Fashion Week is considered one of the premiere events in the fashion world - and for good reason. If you’re looking for one convenient place to shop in luxury, Quadrilatero d’Oro, or ‘rectangle of gold’ has everything the fashion world could offer. Specifically, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the country’s oldest active shopping mall, built in 1877. Not only is this mall home to some of the world’s most premiere luxury brands including Versace, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Dolce and Gabbana, but the mall itself is known for its glass dome roof and incredible architecture. If you’re looking for a fun outfit to wear to Autodromo Nazionale Monza, you can even check out Tod’s or the Ferrari store for fun gear.

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Milanese cuisine

When traveling to Monza for the grand prix, it’s important to check out some of the food and drink staples that make Milan and this region of Italy unique.

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If you’re a Starbucks fan, The Milano Roastery was opened in 2018, and pays tribute to the art of coffee. This coffee house is part roastery and part museum including an interactive AR experience, coffee and cocktail bars, and the roastery where you can select a custom roast curated by a Master Roaster.

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Once you’ve had your share of coffee and espresso, there is one dish that is a must try for all Milan visitors - Milanese Risotto. Restaurants like Ratana and Trattoria Milanese are known to serve the best Risotto Milanese that the city has to offer.

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Milan Nightlife

Are you done with your day at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza and want to go out on the town? Milan has everything under the sun for you to experience from trattorias for pizza and wine to massive clubs to dance the night away with the rest of the Tifosi. Milan’s two main districts for bars and clubs are the Brera Gallery, and the Navigli canal neighborhoods. Generally these clubs will open around 11:00 pm and close when the sun rises! Milan also has a number of great happy hour deals if you want to have some fun on a budget.

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Alfa Romeo and Scuderia Ferrari Museums

If you’re a Scuderia Ferrari planning to attend the Italian Grand Prix, the best day trip is to Maranello. You can travel to Maranello with a quick car ride or by taking a shuttle from the Modena train station for €10.

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The Ferrari museum in Maranello is open year round, and is home to a variety of Ferrari cars as well as Ferrari Formula 1 cars. Entry is €13 for adults and €11 concession. Depending on the day, a tour of the neighboring Ferrari factory and test track could be included in entry, but there are limited seats - so book well in advance! The museum website for booking and tickets can be viewed here.

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Enzo Ferrari Museum - Modena

Another piece of Scuderia Ferrari history sits in nearby Modena. The creator of Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari has his own museum! This attraction features a history of the life and work of Enzo Ferrari that brought Ferrari to its luxury, elite status that we know and love today. Tickets for this museum are the same price as the Maranello museum, or you can buy a combined ticket for both museums. You can view the Enzo Ferrari museum website here.

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Museo Storico Alfa Romeo - Arese

Located in the Arese region of Milan, you’ll find the Alfa Romeo museum. This museum showcases cars and engines from Alfa Romeo’s long history including the 159 driven by Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio. The museum itself is over 6 floors and open every day of the week from 10am to 6pm except Tuesdays. You can access the museum through public transport for a low cost of only €12.

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Looking for more on the Italian Grand Prix?

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If you're attending the Italian GP now or in the future, we highly recommend starting with our "Know Before You Go" discussion for all the insider tips and tricks you need to maximize your experience.

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When you're finished, join the lively Grand Prix Travel community on FanAmp and Reddit to interact with fellow motorsports enthusiasts, ask questions, and gather valuable insights. There are even meetups at races around the world so you can spend time with new and old friends over food and drink.‍

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And be sure to visit our trusted partner, F1 Destinations, for help with tickets and all things travel. They write excellent, in-depth guides on all aspects of each race.