THE KING OF THE PIAZZA

The King of the Piazza

Meet the man behind Milan’s booming classic car scene.

It’s fair to say that until Carlo Vulnera came along, classic car culture in Milan was a much less centralised affair. You’d see people around on the odd joyride and those in the know might’ve been able to point you to the quiet-looking apartment blocks that hid the city’s best collections. Lately though, Sunday mornings have given the city a bit more of a focal point with the Quelli di Piazza Affari meet-ups.

Carlo didn’t start this weekly ritual, but his stewardship over its online presence has given the car culture in this city a whole new lease of life. Every week sees people fighting for the best spot in the Piazza Affari, and every week you’ll spot Carlo in his 1983 Porsche Carrera 3.2, its beige interior glowing against the Milanese dawn.

It’s a largely unmodified car, already perfect for Carlo’s lifestyle. The city’s cobbled surfaces favour the generous ride height of an original G series 911 and the narrow body is perfect for pinching through constricted side streets. The only real change is the ski rack on the roof, perfect for last minute weekends in the mountains where Carlo and his friends regularly take their cars to stretch their legs.

The Piazza Affari meet-ups are often a catalyst for bigger adventures like that. They may begin as casual hangouts on the cobblestones, but they’re a great way to meet people for wider-ranging trips. Milan is a city with an incredible range of countryside available right on the doorstep, and choosing a car that works in all these environments is key to making the most of it.