Mille Miglia

The Mille Miglia or the "thousand miles" has been called the "most beautiful race in the world". Initiated in 1927, the race was canceled for reasons of safety in 1957 and twenty years later was revived as a road rally.

This year the race takes place from the 9th to 13th of June, featuring hundreds of the most important vintage racing cars (and some contemporary models) from around the world, parading over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of Italian roads highlighting countrysides, mountains, ancient villages and city centers including Piazza del Campo in Siena. Starting in Brescia, Lombardia, they travel to Rome and back, winding through the countrysides of the Veneto, Marche and Umbria regions and returning through Tuscany, including Siena, but avoiding the center of Florence (we are not sure why!). The collection includes classic cars from Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche and Alfa Romeo, among others.

Here are some of our favorite photos from the years the race came right through the center of Florence:

Here is this years program, from their website:

Tuesday 9 June - Brescia → Padua
The departure will take place in Brescia in the late morning. The cars will climb towards the Trompia Valley and the Gobbia Valley, before stopping in Lumezzane. After crossing the Cavallo Pass, the route will descend into the Sabbia Valley, skirt Lake Garda, travel through Vicenza and end the first day in Padua.

Wednesday 10 June - Padua → Montecatini Terme
The second leg will head west, passing through Ferrara, Modena, Reggio Emilia and crossing the Abetone Pass, before ending among the Art Nouveau buildings of Montecatini Terme.

Thursday 11 June - Montecatini Terme → Rome
The third day will start with a trip to Versilia, passing through Pietrasanta, renowned for its sculpture and contemporary art. After lunch in the famous Piazza del Campo in Siena, the cars will continue towards Lake Bolsena and Lake Vico, arriving in the capital, the traditional turning point of the race.

Friday 12 June - Rome → Rimini
The journey north will pass through Assisi, on the occasion of the eighth centenary of the death of St Francis, then stop for lunch in Gubbio and the spectacular passage through the Furlo Gorge, ending in Rimini, overlooking the Adriatic Sea.

Saturday 13 June - Rimini → Brescia
The last day will take the cars through the salt pans of Cervia and Comacchio, then Ferrara, where the route will cross that of the southbound journey. After a stop in Mantua, the finish is scheduled in Viale Venezia in Brescia, where the 1000 Miglia historically starts and finishes.