Italian day in Årstaviken 2025
Each Monday meeting in Årstaviken has its own theme: from popular brands like VW or Volvo to Rolls-Royce and Bentley. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the day I always look forward to the most is the Italian one. This year was no different. I might miss some of the other meetings, but I always make sure to be available on this particular day.
The first reason for my enthusiasm is quite obvious – there’s a place in my heart reserved for Italian metal. But there’s more to it. Seeing a Fiat or an Alfa Romeo on the streets of Stockholm is a rare sight. Yet the absence of these cars on the streets doesn’t truly reflect what’s hidden behind garage doors. Many fascinating machines are tucked away, and the chance to see some of them is not something to be missed.
Meetings of Italian cars usually follow one familiar pattern: Alfa Romeo and the rest. Let’s take two examples: the Moto & Macchine, which takes place in the Skokloster and ForzaItalia near Warsaw. It should come as no surprise that the cars from Arese make up the majority. The blend of beautiful design, great driving experience, and relatively affordable prices has earned the brand a devoted following. However, this year’s gathering at Årstaviken broke that pattern. When I arrived, I was surprised to see that this time Maseratis and Ferraris took the spotlight.
Which cars stood out from the crowd? The Maserati Shamal and Fiat Dino definitely did. The Maserati Sebring is also a car that no one can simply walk past. The selection of Alfa Romeos was interesting – from the usual suspects like the GTV, Spider, and the 75, through less common models such as the 90, to much newer ones like the 159. But I was happiest to see the humble 147. Why? Not only is it a very rare sight on the streets of Sweden, but more importantly, it was the first car I ever bought! I really enjoyed the 60k kilometers I covered behind its steering wheel. Unfortunately, after a timing belt failure, the car spent the following years as a project – not a very happy one, as its story eventually ended at the scrapyard. A valuable lesson for me... on how not to handle project cars.
Just when I thought I had already seen everything worth seeing that day and was about to leave, the true star of the event arrived: a 1925 Fiat 501 Torpedo. The couple driving the car looked absolutely spectacular. Driving such a vehicle in regular traffic must be an extraordinary experience. Fortunately, I still had three frames of film left to capture it, but nothing left for the Ferrari 308 which arrived moments later. Honorable mention should also go the first generation Panda which was parked close the main venue.
I call the meetings in Årstaviken Analog Mondays. The reason is simple – each time I visit, I bring a different film camera with me. This time was no different – or perhaps just a little. I often challenge myself by using very old, fully mechanical, and somewhat clumsy cameras. But this time, I wanted to play it safe and make sure the photos would be properly exposed and in focus. I chose one of Canon’s last film SLRs, the EOS 30, paired with a nifty fifty from the same era – a light yet capable setup.
Seeing a larger selection of Italian classics is always a good treatment for the eyes, and the walk to Årstaviken, along the water’s edge, is a healthy bonus in itself. The summary of the whole season, with photos from the other meetings, is going to be the next story on my page. Stay tuned.
