Mille Miglia 2019
Discussion
Anyone going?
Not been before, nor did I really plan on it. But turns out that its happening the week that we are down touring the Alps so thought it would be rude not to go and check it out for a day.
Anyone a regular down there? I don't want to head too far south, so ideally want to catch it around Brescia. They leave for the run on the Wednesday (15th May), maybe an obvious question, but is this the best day to head down?
Best to head into centre, see the cars stationary and embrace the atmosphere? Or find a place near the beginning of the route and watch them all fly past?
Not been before, nor did I really plan on it. But turns out that its happening the week that we are down touring the Alps so thought it would be rude not to go and check it out for a day.
Anyone a regular down there? I don't want to head too far south, so ideally want to catch it around Brescia. They leave for the run on the Wednesday (15th May), maybe an obvious question, but is this the best day to head down?
Best to head into centre, see the cars stationary and embrace the atmosphere? Or find a place near the beginning of the route and watch them all fly past?
We went last year. We flew and hired a car (Renault Twingo, which was a hoot if not very fast!) and stayed at Desenzano del Garda which was on the route so you can stand on the shores of Lake Garda and watch the cars come through. We watched the start and finish from Brescia but by far the best viewing we had was in Sienna where they blast through the square and along the narrow streets. Some pictures below. Do it - its brilliant!
Our pics are here: https://pbase.com/tr7v8/laon_2016
Fantastic we booked with Scenic car tours & stayed in a Hotel at Lake Garda, around 15 mins by train from Brescia. Watched the start in the pouring rain. We then went to a hotel about an hour south of Florence & watched the MM come through the town just down the road, then past the hotel.
Some stunning cars, the carabinieri were controlling traffic & making them go faster & make more noise. Even stopping the main highway for them & taking pics on their mobiles!
We then went back to Garda & then home.
Fantastic we booked with Scenic car tours & stayed in a Hotel at Lake Garda, around 15 mins by train from Brescia. Watched the start in the pouring rain. We then went to a hotel about an hour south of Florence & watched the MM come through the town just down the road, then past the hotel.
Some stunning cars, the carabinieri were controlling traffic & making them go faster & make more noise. Even stopping the main highway for them & taking pics on their mobiles!
We then went back to Garda & then home.
We went last year, stayed in Desenzano and got the train over to Brescia to see the presentation of the cars in the square on the day before the start; right up close with commentary. Watched them coming through Desenzano on the first day and nipped over to Sirmione on the boat to catch the rest of the field at a time check.
On the final day we drove out towards Chiari to watch the cars on the road, then followed on/joined in, even got waved through a couple of towns on the route.
It's an event not to be missed and it's all free for spectators with plenty of information, programmes and magazines dished out in Brescia as well as the very high level of detail on the MM website. It enjoys great support from the locals and gives you the opportunity to see some very rarely seen cars.
On the final day we drove out towards Chiari to watch the cars on the road, then followed on/joined in, even got waved through a couple of towns on the route.
It's an event not to be missed and it's all free for spectators with plenty of information, programmes and magazines dished out in Brescia as well as the very high level of detail on the MM website. It enjoys great support from the locals and gives you the opportunity to see some very rarely seen cars.
I've been 4 times ,as you say ,head into Brescia on Wednesday to see the cars parked ,then find a spot somewhere
east of the centre for when they leave.
Giancarlo Fisichella's wheels from last year.
The MM is the best car event in the world .
ETA.....if you have time ,visit the MM museum too ,parking is free in the road close to it and you can walk into the centre for the cars
parked up.
east of the centre for when they leave.
Giancarlo Fisichella's wheels from last year.
The MM is the best car event in the world .
ETA.....if you have time ,visit the MM museum too ,parking is free in the road close to it and you can walk into the centre for the cars
parked up.
Edited by Pericoloso on Wednesday 3rd April 21:02
Thanks for all the responses. The excitement is building for this!
So to those familiar with the event. I'm going to head to Brescia on the Wednesday, probably around lunch time or just before to have a few hours looking round the cars before they leave. I'd then like to go find a place to watch them near Garda, any suggestions for a good place to pull up on the route?
We're starting in Zurich for this trip, planned on a route through Italy and up into Austria. Planned on spending a night at Garda but it's just dawned on my that my chances of getting a hotel round there are probably quite slim now aren't they?
So to those familiar with the event. I'm going to head to Brescia on the Wednesday, probably around lunch time or just before to have a few hours looking round the cars before they leave. I'd then like to go find a place to watch them near Garda, any suggestions for a good place to pull up on the route?
We're starting in Zurich for this trip, planned on a route through Italy and up into Austria. Planned on spending a night at Garda but it's just dawned on my that my chances of getting a hotel round there are probably quite slim now aren't they?
For places to watch the event in progress it's hard to say but when the detailed route goes up you can decide according to time estimates and checks and stops. We just got out on the route and stopped where we found a space with the Italian fans. Remember that although the roads between towns aren't closed, non-competitors are diverted round the centres.
What was good on Day 1 in Desenzano last year was that it's not long after the start and the field was still closed up and then there was a time check, where they all stop, over in Sirmione (quick boat trip) so I reckon we saw well over half the entry quite conveniently and it's a relatively slow section in Desenzano itself.
I don't know how tricky it'd be for access and parking in Desenzano but the train from Brescia is quick and it connects with the tube system which has a station right on the square in Brescia, so a lot could be squeezed into a day.
There's quite a few places with hotels around the lake and it didn't take long to get around, so you might be OK.
Check out the detailed route and timings when they go up closer to the event and have a great trip - we did!
What was good on Day 1 in Desenzano last year was that it's not long after the start and the field was still closed up and then there was a time check, where they all stop, over in Sirmione (quick boat trip) so I reckon we saw well over half the entry quite conveniently and it's a relatively slow section in Desenzano itself.
I don't know how tricky it'd be for access and parking in Desenzano but the train from Brescia is quick and it connects with the tube system which has a station right on the square in Brescia, so a lot could be squeezed into a day.
There's quite a few places with hotels around the lake and it didn't take long to get around, so you might be OK.
Check out the detailed route and timings when they go up closer to the event and have a great trip - we did!
As part of a roadtrip holiday, my girlfriend and i have planned to be in Bologna as the Mille Miglia passes through and we are staying fairly close to the centre where i believe they check point is located.
Does anyone have any experience or recommendations of how best to enjoy the arrival/departure? We are asssuming it’s best just to plot up somewhere and enjoy the sights with a few drinks but would appreciate any advice.
Does anyone have any experience or recommendations of how best to enjoy the arrival/departure? We are asssuming it’s best just to plot up somewhere and enjoy the sights with a few drinks but would appreciate any advice.
kel176506 said:
As part of a roadtrip holiday, my girlfriend and i have planned to be in Bologna as the Mille Miglia passes through and we are staying fairly close to the centre where i believe they check point is located.
Does anyone have any experience or recommendations of how best to enjoy the arrival/departure? We are asssuming it’s best just to plot up somewhere and enjoy the sights with a few drinks but would appreciate any advice.
Going to be road tripping the exact same time as us then! I'm not going to venture as far south as Bologna though, mainly up in the hills but going to swing by Brescia and Garda to catch some of the MM.Does anyone have any experience or recommendations of how best to enjoy the arrival/departure? We are asssuming it’s best just to plot up somewhere and enjoy the sights with a few drinks but would appreciate any advice.
kel176506 said:
As part of a roadtrip holiday, my girlfriend and i have planned to be in Bologna as the Mille Miglia passes through and we are staying fairly close to the centre where i believe they check point is located.
Does anyone have any experience or recommendations of how best to enjoy the arrival/departure? We are asssuming it’s best just to plot up somewhere and enjoy the sights with a few drinks but would appreciate any advice.
When we went some years ago the check-point was out near the airport though they did pass through the city.Does anyone have any experience or recommendations of how best to enjoy the arrival/departure? We are asssuming it’s best just to plot up somewhere and enjoy the sights with a few drinks but would appreciate any advice.
If that's your only viewing point you need to be sure you're in the right place...
johnzo said:
My short post ... DO NOT MISS IT .. We drove (TVR) to Desenzano two years ago, and took the train into Brescia before the start. We also picked them up on the Sunday drive/race back to Brescia. Fabulous, and everything that is said about the atmosphere and excitement is true.
Yeh I keep hearing how special an event it is. Fully intend on seeing it, but we won't be heading any further south than Garda so it will have to be the Brescia starting point I think. Either that or somewhere nearby when they all set off that we can pull up and watch, hmmm.Sorry for the late reply.
We're going to Sirmione to watch it for the second time, love the event so much & the town is stunning.
The competitors drive to the top of the spit of land that leads to Sirmione, do their stuff at the checkpoint then drive back down again. As a result if you plonk yourself by the side of the road/lake or in a nice restaurant you get to see them travelling in both directions!
We're flying out on Tuesday & back on Saturday so will have a few days chilling by the lake, great fun!
Nick
We're going to Sirmione to watch it for the second time, love the event so much & the town is stunning.
The competitors drive to the top of the spit of land that leads to Sirmione, do their stuff at the checkpoint then drive back down again. As a result if you plonk yourself by the side of the road/lake or in a nice restaurant you get to see them travelling in both directions!
We're flying out on Tuesday & back on Saturday so will have a few days chilling by the lake, great fun!
Nick
MrVert said:
Oh it is, it's a lovely spot. Get there early to avoid the crowds. Walk through the town, after you've found some excellent gelati and down to the shore on the other side and find the thermal springs on the shore of the lakeGassing Station | Events & Meetings | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff