CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF WHERE - Where Milan

1936. A young Ottavio Missoniruns in the Arena of MilanRosita and Ottavio MissoniChampion (of Fashion)In 1936 the Olympics were staged in Berlin: Ondina Valla was the first Italianwoman to win an Olympic gold medal in the 80 metres hurdles event. In Milan,in the meantime, another promising athlete was also busy training. Despitewearing the colours of the national team, he was just a fraction too young toparticipate in the games. His name was Ottavio Missoni and he had to waituntil the 1948 Olympics for his big chance in London, where he distinguishedhimself in the 400 metres hurdles event. The Second World War robbed himof his best running years, preventing him from possibly becoming a realchampion, but he was not destined to remain anonymous. Today, throughoutthe world, his name is an International fashion brand, synonymous with colourand creativity. The Missoni Showroom is located in Milan in via Solferino 9 whilethe boutique is, naturally, found in via Montenapoleone (Map G4).SWEET MEMORIESSeventy five years of sweetness: thisis the mission of Sant’Ambroeusand Cucchi (see listings p. 49),Milanese pastry makers since1936. Today, the best pastries intown. Located in the heart of thecentre and established to serve LaScala theatre goers, Sant’Ambroeuscarries the name of the patronsaint of the city and, since its verybeginning, has offered homemadepastries and biscuits, chocolates andsavoury snacks. At the beginningof Corso Genova, we find Cucchi, ahistoric cosy tearoom. The perfectplace to enjoy a freshly bakeddelicacy or simply read a newspaper.Allow yourself to be tempted bythe winter ritual of drinking a cup ofhot chocolate.THE MOST ELEGANT QUINTET IN THE WORLD1936 was a crucial year for the history of Milanese sport. It marked the foundingof the city’s basketball team, Olimpia Milano, whose historic name wassubsequently enriched by those of its various sponsors, including fashiondesigner Giorgio Armani, who recently bought the team and restored it toits former glory. Now known as Armani Jeans Armani Olimpia Milano, theteam – sometimes referred to as “Scarpette Rosse” (Little Red Shoes) - has won25 Italian championships, 3 European Champions Cups, 4 Italian National Cups,1 Intercontinental Cup, 2 Korac cups and 3 Saporta Cups: all in 25 years. Five ofits most famous players are featured in the Basketball Hall of Fame and include:Bill Bradley, Sandro Gamba, Bob McAdoo, Dino Meneghin and Cesare Rubini.One of the best players ever signed was Mike D’Antoni, now coach of the NewYork Knicks. In 2008, the Knicks signed a contract with Danilo Gallinari, the 22year-old Italian player who joined the NBA straight from his hometown in Milan.The symbol of the Armani Jeans Olimpia team is a warrior set against a whitebackground holding a shieldfeaturing the Duomo. If youwant to attend an Olimpiamatch, ask your concierge toget you tickets. Rememberthat the team plays at thePalaForum in Assago or at thePalaLido. Ask your concierge.The InventionIn 2010 it was nominated “brand of the year”. In 1936, mountaineer,Vitale Bramani, the survivor of a mountaineering tragedy involving theloss of two of his climbing companions, had the idea of applying thetechnology developed by Pirelli for car tyres to shoe soles; the idea wasto make them safer, less slippery and better performing. The inventionbecame a patented brand (Vibram, from the initials of its inventor) andsubsequently a company that, from Albizzate near Varese, exports itsproducts to over 120 countries worldwide. 2005 saw the invention of“Fivefingers”, a shoe-glove designed to offer the same advantages aswalking barefoot. If you want to try this experience, the flagship store is invia Raffaello Sanzio (see listings p. 38).www.wheretraveler.com 9