24th September 2024
Autostrada A8 centenary celebrations at Autogrill’s Villoresi Ovest
The famous point of sale was chosen to celebrate the centenary of the Milan – Varese motorway
On 21 September 2024, on the occasion of the centenary of the Autostrada dei Laghi A8 (A8 Motorway of the Lakes), Autogrill’s famous Villoresi Ovest point of sale hosted the official celebrations organized by Autostrade per l’Italia (ASPI) and Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI), which were attended by various institutions and authorities. It was an important opportunity to pay tribute to the world’s first motorway, a symbol of progress in mobility in Italy. There is also a celebratory totem marking this first centenary inside the point of sale.
The celebrations took place at Villoresi Ovest because it symbolizes the motorway and is a vital landmark for local economic development. Numerous institutions took part: Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, Regione Lombardia president Attilio Fontana, Autostrade per l’Italia CEO Roberto Tomasi, Automobile Club Milano chairman Geronimo La Russa, and Mayor of Lainate Alberto Landonio. Massimiliano Santoro, CEO of Italy F&B at Avolta, to which Autogrill belongs, also spoke at the event.
Villoresi Ovest, a bridge between past and future
Built in 1958 by architect Angelo Bianchetti to design criteria distinctly ahead of the times, Villoresi is one of Autogrill’s most iconic and representative points of sale. This symbol of Made in Italy modernism was designed to respond to changes in spending habits in Italy at the beginning of the ‘60s and underwent conservative restoration in 2020. Its design is emblematic of the country’s economic and industrial renaissance after the 2nd world war.
The point of sale is now a veritable bridge between past and future: from its origins down to its relaunching in 2020 as an icon of rebirth after the pandemic, Villoresi represents a perfect marriage of tradition and innovation. Inspired by the past, with an interior design in line with the Italian tradition, it looks to the future thanks to a constant focus on sustainability and circular economy, as well as to an offering geared to the tastes and trends of the moment.
