Brera

[Pottree@domain.elided]

In a message dated 4/16/2002 8:20:08 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:


> I found the choice of the
> Brera name fascinating, and breathtaking in its audacity; it is known to me
> from "The Brera", the universally recognized shorthand for the Pinacotecca 
> di
> Brera, the Brera Picture Gallery in Milan, (in a seventeenth-century 
> palace)
> which undoubtedly gave the fashionable quarter its name. The Brera has 
> Italy's
> finest collection of Renaissance paintings, the artwork of Italy's 
> culturally
> most significant period and most significant artists; 

I can't say if the Pinacotecca is named for the quarter or vice versa, but 
the idea of the cultural supremacy of art and artfulness is what the whole 
place is about, across the cultural spectrum and it is very exciting, in 
fact, it is the heart and soul of the place, to me.  And I think that is the 
feeling GG is shooting for with the show car using the Brera name.  But, 
don't forget the women! (or, if you prefer, the men!).

About a block from the fabulous museum is a large art school and besides the 
tourists and the models and photographers, the pedestrian street between the 
two is choked with art students.  NB: it is on this very trendy street where 
you can find the world's best gelato!  No visit to Milano could be completed 
-- or even begun! -- without a stop for a scoop here!  Then, you can go on to 
the lesser places such as the Duomo, the Galleria, Biffi, La Scala (now 
closed for four or five years renovation), the Last Supper, etc.

It is easy to be distracted by our own special interests, in this case cars 
and particularly Alfas.  But if you can imagine for a moment that you had 
another consuming passion, that would also likely see its Zenith in Milano, 
and likely in Brera: it is also the world design capitol for furnishings, 
eyeglasses, textiles, leather goods, and so much more, all sharing that 
quality of forward design and exceptional craftsmanship that actually goes 
back to the early days of Milano: that was THE place to go to get your suit 
of armor made, to buy swords, cannon, daggers, etc. and that was where they 
developed the most advanced metallurgy.  When you stroll through Brera it is 
all seamless and apparent -- plus, the food's great!

If you saw a Brera Alfa parked there on the street, it would look exactly 
right, in proportion and form it would go with the buildings, and all the 
shiny planes would reflect the whirl of supermodels and art students and 
gelato eaters.  You could say there are visual echoes of the Renaissance 
paintings in the engine and the coachwork.  Magnifico!

Charlie
LA, CA, USA

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