Hotel de la Ville
As a boy, the name of Monza held an allure for me. It meant impossibly fast cars, squealing tyres and heroic drivers; it meant high thrills and glittering style. Now, here I was, at last, on my way to this mecca of Formula One racing, feeling considerable curiosity and even excitement, as I drove, sedately enough, on the autostrada around Milan.

The Hotel de la Ville came highly recommended and was to be my base for a memorable stay in this part of Italy. The hotel stands in a quiet and favoured position, looking out onto the park-like gardens of the vast and imposing Villa Reale, former summer residence of the Royal House of Savoy.

Once inside, oak panelling, book cases lined with leather volumes, prints and antiques made me feel immediately at ease, and the caring, friendly service confirmed it:I had arrived in a cosy yet elegant home. My room had all the facilites of a top-class hotel, combined with tasteful antiques and elegant furnishings.

I made my way to the bar for an early evening brandy, then took a strool before dinner in the warm evening air, as far as the wonderful 3th century Gothic Cathedral of St. John.

The marble façade of the cathedral is justly famous. The unusual white and green horizontal design is the work of Matteo de Camplone.
Inside-and this is what I'd really come to see-is an enchanting rose window. At this hour, as the sun was sinking, the stained glass glowed with an other-worldly beauty, as the nave and chancel filled with shadows.

I arrived back at the Hotel de la Ville feeling hungry, and made straight for the Derby Grill restaurant.
Liborio Manasseri, the head chef, is renowned across the country for the manner in which he re-interprets traditional regional cooking with such an imaginative flair.