Fifteen years after his first visit, fashion photographer and T+L India & South Asia A-List member Rohan Shrestha returned to Milan for a slice of fashion and football.
What was your expectation from Milan? And did the city live up to it?
I’ve been to Milan before, but never to Milan Fashion Week. It was a fantastic experience to see the setting, the buzz, and the crowd. It’s not something I experience often. And I fell in love with the city again. When I first went to Milan about 15 years ago, I was a 19-year-old travelling in Europe for the first time, and I didn’t know much. The Internet wasn’t as powerful, so my information was limited. But this time, the guidance that I got from the Airbnb team was fantastic, and they set up so many experiences for me that I got to see more of the real Milan.
What did you discover on your walking tour of the city?
What’s unique about Milan, and also the rest of Italy, is how proud they are of their culture, history, and heritage. The way they maintain their old architecture is inspiring. The city reminds me of home, because the people are so community- and family-driven. On my walking tour, I had a fantastic guide who gave me lots of information on the city’s history I believe that the best way to discover a city is on foot.
Describe your stay.
My Airbnb Plus apartment was absolutely fantastic. It was right on the main street next to the Duomo. It was a huge penthouse apartment—three bedrooms, and a spacious living room with vibrant wall art, natural wood flooring, and an original marble fireplace, all for me!
Favourite meal of the trip? Must-try dishes?
The pizzas were unbelievable! The espresso in Italy is amazing, and I’m a huge coffee buff, so I was curious to try various brews in different cafes. I’m not much of a cook. But I learnt to make pasta from scratch—kneading the dough and rolling it through the pasta-maker, etc.
We heard you saw a football match there?
I’ve travelled extensively across Europe to watch football matches—Paris, Barcelona, and Madrid, and in England as well—London and Manchester. But this was possibly my greatest experience—the Milan derby is always a huge game! The city was at a standstill. Everyone was either an Inter Milan or AC Milan fan. The Milan derby happens just twice a year, but I’d highly recommend it to anyone who is a football fan.
Related: Guess The City Our A-List 2019 Member And Fashion Photographer Rohan Shrestha Wants To Revisit
