Nautilus – Body and Mind

One of the Milanese capital’s most striking concept stores, L’Arabesque, could hardly open an ordinary gym. The space brings together the finest fashion and lifestyle offerings: clothing and accessories (including vintage), fragrances, books, jewellery, design pieces, a café and a dedicated fitness studio, Nautilus. As you might expect, it is far more than an elite private club. It all starts with a story: ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’, recounting the Nautilus submarine gliding through the canals of Venice; here, however, Nautilus sails beneath the waters of the Naviglio.

A true fitness lounge in every sense, it is an exact counterpart to L’Arabesque—only this boutique trades clothes, jewellery and fragrances for curated equipment and training disciplines to deliver total wellbeing. A dedicated space to train body and mind with innovative equipment and a team of specialised professionals constantly on hand for clients and athletes alike: working closely with you, they act as a ‘sonar’ that pinpoints your needs and designs the ideal workout for you.

Above all, the aim here is to restore balance, allowing body and mind to coexist in harmony, and there is no better setting than a peaceful, private retreat where every detail is meticulously considered. Spanning over 400 sq m, a spacious studio fitted with cutting-edge machinery caters to workouts of every level and intensity, alongside a Pilates area led by instructors certified at Anna Maria Cova’s school to tone and lengthen muscles.

There are also classes dedicated to yoga to restore complete inner and outer balance, while the hammam is the finishing touch where you can recharge with relaxing therapeutic massages for total wellness. For an even more targeted, effective result, at Nautilus you can book ‘one to one’ sessions with personal trainers and arrange osteopathy sessions focused on muscle and joint health.

Just as with her artistic, refined concept store, founder Chichi Meroni oversaw the interior design of Nautilus, drawing inspiration from the submarine in ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’ throughout the space: iron flooring, antique lightwells at the entrance recalling submarine hatches, and doors crafted like watertight bulkheads. In the reception area, a statue of a woman with a sculpted physique welcomes guests, recalling the ideals of Classical Greece: kalos kai agathos—the beautiful and the good. All that remains is to let Nautilus guide you towards physical and mental exercise tailored specifically to you.