Everyone has heard of the 'Mille Miglia' motor race but not many of us know much about it.
The first race was held in 1927 and won by Nando Minoia (image above) who finished ahead of 54 other vehicles.
It was an inauspicious start to what has become a modern legend as he crossed the winning line alone in the early morning, while Brescia slept and no other competitor was in sight.
The route of the course was designed to test both driver and vehicle and has always incorporated three important elements: a variety of roads and terrain across Italy, Rome as the turning point back north, and assigned Brescia as the role of departure and arrival.
The original route totalled 1600 km and the organisers immediately christened it "Coppa Mille Miglia" or "The Thousand Mile Cup' in honour of the measurement used during the Roman Empire.
The heyday of the race was from 1947 to 1957 when the world's best drivers and cars competed and the list of entrants is a who's who of 20th century European vehicle manufacturing: Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Fiat, Lancia, Ferrari, Jaguar, Healy, Aston Martin, Mercedes, BMW, Porsche.
Inside the Monastery of Sain Eufemia in Brescia you can visit the Museum of Mille Miglia car race. Passing through the history of this classic sporting event from the 1927, visitors also do a journey across the Italian regions and see art and history of towns that have been part of the race route itineraries. It is also a path into the XX Century social Italian life and culture memories. The museum hosts an exhibition of private cars collectors. www.museomillemiglia.it
Today's 1000 Miglia classic touring car race takes place every year during the second week of May.
The race starts from Brescia and does a return journey to Rome and back taking in Ferrara, Arezzo, Assisi, Roma, Viterbo, Florence, Modena, Mantova and many other locations in between.
Mille Miglia means, of course, a thousand miless and this is a modern non-competitive, rally-style incarnation of the world famous race that in the 30's and 40's gave some of the top names in car racing their fame.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators line the streets waiting patiently to hear the roar of 370 museum quality, finely-tuned unusual epoch cars rip past them in the space of a heartbeat.
The course winds through countryside and villages that have inspired poets but begins and ends in the city of Brescia.
Police block streets in Florence to allow passage through the normally traffic- banned Piazza della Signora as the drivers continue through Ravenna, Rieti, Viterbo, Assisi and Modena with each entrance and exit punctuated by cheering crowds.
The drivers bring their cars from 24 or so nations and have passed a rigorous selection committee that has examined and accepted the uniqueness and race worthiness of each vehicle...only the most special are chosen for the 1,600 kilometer race. But it's not the machinery that lures spectators to the Mille Miglia as much as the opportunity to gaze at le belle macchine (the beautiful cars)
The most recent editions are celebrations of a golden age of motoring and over 350 classic cars take part.
www.1000miglia.eu
read also about Mantua and Tazio Nuvolari
Dan Hostetler adds:
Mille Miglia (Thousand Mile Race) - this is a modern non-competitive, rally-style incarnation of the world famous race that in the 30's and 40's gave some of the top names in car racing their fame. Each May, hundreds of thousands of spectators line the streets waiting patiently to hear the roar of 370 museum quality, finely-tuned unusual epoch cars rip past them in the space of a heartbeat. The course winds through countryside and villages that have inspired poets but begins and ends in the city of Brescia. Police block streets in Florence to allow passage through the normally traffic-banned Piazza della Signora as the drivers continue through Ravenna, Rieti, Viterbo, Assisi and Modena with each entrance and exit punctuated by cheering crowds. The drivers bring their cars from 24 or so nations and have passed a rigorous selection committee that has examined and accepted the uniqueness and race worthiness of each vehicle...only the most special are chosen for the 1,600 kilometer race. But it's not the machinery that lures spectators to the Mille Miglia as much as the opportunity to gaze at le belle macchine (the beautiful cars).
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