The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta on the road from Pienza to San Quirico d'Orcia

In 2001 I came to live in Italy. I had some fun, wrote a journal and this is the blog of my story...

"Tuscany is a state of grace. The countryside is so lovingly designed that the eye sweeps the mountains and valleys without stumbling over a single stone. The lilt of the rolling green hills, the upsurging cypresses, the terraces sculptured by generations that have handled the rocks with skillful tenderness, the fields geometrically juxtaposed as though drawn by a draughtsman for beauty as well as productivity; the battlements of castles on the hills, their tall towers standing grey-blue and golden tan among the forest of trees, the air of such clarity that every sod of earth stands out in such dazzling detail. The fields ripening with barley and oats, beans and beets. The grape-heavy vines espaliered between the horizontal branches of silver-green olive trees, composing orchards of webbed design, rich in intimation of wine, olive oil and lacy-leaf poetry. Tuscany untied the knots in a man's intestines, wiped out the ills of the world. Italy is the garden of Europe, Tuscany is the garden of Italy, Florence is the flower of Tuscany." Irving Stone from my favourite book " The Agony and the Ecstacy" A fictional biography of Michelangelo



30. 'the most beautiful road race in the World'. The Mille Miglia



Saturday lunchtime and from the kitchen I can hear the distant rumble of  what sounds like no ordinary car engines coming from the road.

I walk down the driveway and am greeted by some classic cars whizzing by on the Chiantigiana. There are some people gathered by the side of the road and I discover that today is the 'Mille Miglia'. The name sounds familiar...



The Mille Miglia is an historic car ralley that started in 1927. The course starts in Brescia near Milan and goes down to Rome and back up finishing back in Brescia.

The originators Aymo Maggi and Franco Mazzotta were so upset that their home town of Brescia lost out to Monza as the choice for the Italian Grand Prix, that they started  a new road race, the Mille Miglia, or 1,000 Miles, from Brescia. Originally it was a race for unmodified production cars and so gave rise to the popularity of the G.T. or Grand Touring car.



In 1938 the race was briefly interupted after an acident killed a number of spectators, but continued again after the war. Notable contestants included the great Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio.

The Mille Miglia as a flat out race came to an end in 1957 after another fatal crash took the lives of a Spanish driver and co-driver and 9 spectators, including 5 children.




It wasn't until 1977 that the Mille Miglia was revived, but this time as a leisurely procession, over several days and with pre-1957 vintage cars. This is why it is known as 'the most beautiful road race in the World'.

I stay on the drive for an hour or so, cheering and waving the competitiors on. There is some very hair raisng overtaking going on for what is supposed to be a non-competitive race! But it's a marvellous sight to behold, with all these 1930's 40's and 50's Ferraris, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos, Aston Martins etc. sputtering engines and tanking it on the very beautiful Chiantigiana road.



Today is also F.A. cup day in England and they're showing it at the bar down the road. So I go back and get my car and for a few minutes I am part of the Mille Miglia! I wave back at some rather confused spectators... Now I know the Nissan is old, but not that old!

My team, Chelsea are playing against Arsenal and unfortunately we lose 2-0, but an unexpected treat, witnessing my 1st Mille Miglia!



(Original journal entry 4/5/02)
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