When it comes to legendary road races, the undisputed queen of them all is the 1000 Miglia, known universally as “the most beautiful race in the world”. The phrase was coined by Enzo Ferrari, whose dream of victory came true for the first time in 1948, with drivers Clemente Biondetti and Giuseppe Navone.

The legendary race began in 1927 in Brescia, the start and finish of the circular route that crosses half of Italy, to Rome and back. The intermediate stops have always been variable, but the name of the race refers for the original Brescia-Rome-Brescia route, which was 1600 km – or 1000 miles – long.

“A crazy race, utterly exhausting, without rest, through town and country, in mountains and beside the sea, by day and by night… Not a wink of sleep, faces of stone, nerves of steel”: this was how journalist Giuseppe Tonelli described the first edition, won (after 21 hours, 4 minutes and 48 seconds) by Ferdinando Minoia and Giuseppe Morandi in their Om 665.

And so it continued until 1957, the last year of the 1000 Miglia as a speed event, won on that occasion by Piero Taruffi, who crossed the finish line in a Ferrari 315 S after 10 hours, 27 minutes and 47 seconds.
There are countless anecdotes and unforgettable moments from those first 30 years (and 24 editions), including the famous nighttime overtake by Tazio Nuvolari, who followed Achille Varzi with headlights turned off to make him think there was a problem, only to race past and win the title in 1930, or Count Giannino Marzotto, who won twice (1950 and 1953) dressed in a double-breasted suit and tie.

After a pause of 20 years, in 1977 the 1000 Miglia finally returned as a regularity rally with entry only permitted to cars that had taken part in the original event, such as the Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Super Sport, the Ferrari 340 MM, the Bugatti T 23 Brescia, the Aston Martin Le Mans and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, driven by both professionals and enthusiasts, including celebrities like Jeremy Irons and Adrien Brody.

For the 2024 edition, the 1000 Miglia departs from Brescia on Tuesday 11 June, its main points Turin, Viareggio, Rome and Bologna, before returning to Brescia on Saturday 15 June.
One of the official partners is The Mall Luxury Outlets, which has always been committed to promoting Italy’s artistic and cultural heritage through events, initiatives and prestigious collaborations.

(ph. courtesy 1000 Miglia)