LEG 1 – TUESDAY 13TH JUNE
Desenzano del Garda, Sirmione, Verona, Bovolone, Ferrara, Lugo, Imola, Forlì
After departing from Viale Venezia, the competing cars crossed Lake Garda, Verona, Ferrara, Lugo and Imola ending the first leg in Cervia-Milano Marittima.
Desenzano del Garda
The 1000 Miglia and Desenzano, a bond that continues over time
The Red Arrow crossed the streets of one of the most renowned locations on Garda. On Tuesday 13th June, during its first leg, the 1000 Miglia 2023 passed through the town with an artistic, historical and archaeological heritage that has its roots in the Roman era.
Sirmione
A unique site for an unrepeatable race
Also this year the salon of Lake Garda welcomed the Most beautiful race in the world. During the first leg, which was held on Tuesday 13th June, the travelling museum crossed the pearl of Garda. A place where the uniqueness of the cars participating in the race merged with the naturalistic and historical wonders of the place that attracts tourists from all over the world.
Verona
The 1000 Miglia in a city of dreams
Verona, a gentle city of dreams, where emotion merges with endless beauty. Every step along its streets fills one with a deep sense of wonder and enchantment. The ancient walls tell faraway stories, while the piazzas vibrate with life and contagious energy. Falling in love with Verona is inevitable, falling in love in Verona is the desire of many. The Arena, with its ancient stones and the lure of operas, awakens the soul and ignites passion. Juliet’s House, with its balcony that has seen promises of love, fills the heart with hope and romance. But it is in the details that Verona reveals itself to be a jewel. The bridges reflecting on the serene waters of the Adige River, the alleys steeped in history and mystery, the squares adorned with flowers and bright colours. Every corner hides a secret to be discovered, a moment of pure enchantment to be experienced. And when evening wraps the city in its embrace, the restaurants and osterias come alive with laughter and conviviality. The scent of Veronese cuisine fills the air and the local wine slips gently through the lips, giving a unique flavour to every mouthful.
Bovolone
The 1000 Miglia in the heart of the plains of Verona
Originating from some Bronze Age settlements, Bovolone was a possession of the Bishop of Verona, who established one of his residences in the Bishop’s Palace. In the post-war period, it developed as an agricultural centre and an area for the production of classic furniture.
Among the most interesting sights are the ancient Pieve di San Giovanni Battista and the Oratorio San Biagio, of which the original bell tower remains and inside which several 16th-century paintings are kept. There is also the Cathedral of San Giuseppe, with its beautiful marble floor, the 130-pipe organ in the apse and the Della Scala-era sarcophagus containing the remains of Bishop Nicolò Ormaneto.
Near Piazza Scipioni, the site of the Perseus War Memorial, is the Bishop’s Palace, now the Town Hall, the Municipal Library and the Local Police Station.
Finally, the Menago Valley Park covers an area of about 35 hectares between the Menago River and the Fossa Nuova and is accessible from Piazzale Mulino; it includes a large picnic area and an animal enclosure. Finally, on the small island in the centre of the lake, it is possible to visit the reconstruction of the prehistoric village.
Ferrara
The traveling museum in the capital of the Renaissance
Considered one of the art cities par excellence, Ferrara can boast about having seen a traveling museum passing through its streets. The 1000 Miglia 2023 passed through Ferrara and then concluded the first leg in Cervia. On Tuesday 13th June the Race travelled through the Renaissance capital, ruled for three centuries by the House of Este and which to the present days preserves a unique urban plan in which the Middle Ages and the Renaissance manage to blend. Due to this unique feature of Ferrara, it has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lugo
The 1000 Miglia for the first time in the birthplace of Francesco Baracca, Italian aviation ace
Lugo, also known as Lugo di Romagna, is a very old town. There is even evidence of the existence of a Neolithic village close to the present town. After the first settlements of the Celts, Lugo entered the orbit of the Romans at the height of the 5th century AD. Today, it retains a historical centre of considerable interest that bears witness to the development of civil and religious architecture over the centuries. The town’s symbolic monument is the Rocca Estense, home of the Town Hall. In the central square, it is possible to admire the sculpture by Domenico Rambelli dedicated to the ace of aces of Italian aviation, Francesco Baracca, who was born in Lugo. A few metres away in the street of the same name, inside the house where he was born, stands the Museum that the Municipality has dedicated to him and where it is possible to admire, among other things, the Spad VII aircraft. On one side of the fuselage is the emblem used by Major Baracca: the prancing horse.
Imola
A land of emotions, between engines and flavours
An ancient town, founded by the Romans more than two thousand years ago, with an international vocation and open to the world since time immemorial, in which cultural, musical, food, wine and manufacturing excellence find perfect harmony.
The centre of Imola was built under the shadow of the municipal clock tower, where the Cardo and Decumanus meet. It is the ideal point to begin a journey of discovery that starts from the mediaeval vaults of the Palazzo Comunale and continues under the elegant porticoes that flank Piazza Matteotti: the warm colours and materials are those of the history of Romagna. A short distance away, stands one of the most beautiful 18th-century buildings of Imola, the evocative Palazzo Tozzoni with its original furnishings and collections, which is now the Civic Museum. Further on, you reach one of the symbols of the city: the Rocca Sforzesca, a splendid example of fortified architecture from the Middle Ages.
The history of Imola extends as far as the “Enzo and Dino Ferrari” International Racetrack, which in 2023 celebrates 70 years since its foundation and is a distinctive feature of the identity of Imola. From the railway station, it is only a 15-minute walk through the historic centre to the circuit. Imola is a land of emotions, between engines and know-how of our region, it is the heart of Motor Valley, the hyphen between Emilia and Romagna, in which the Circuit constitutes a rich and dynamic identity open to the future.
Forlì
The 1000 Miglia returned to the city in Romagna
After last year’s passage, the 2023 Race passed through the streets of Forlì, a town that still bears clearly visible the two road axes of Roman origin and preserves numerous significant traces of the Roman and Renaissance eras. On Tuesday 13th June the competing cars greeted Forlì and headed towards the end of the leg in Cervia Milano Marittima.
Cervia-Milano Marittima
The Red Arrow in the heart of the Romagna Riviera
The first leg of the 1000 Miglia 2023 ended in one of the main tourist resorts of the Romagna Riviera: on 13th June the Red Arrow arrived in Cervia. Founded as a salt mining town, its past can still be felt today among the ancient and imposing Salt Warehouses and the San Michele Tower. In the seaside town, along the canal port, the warmth and liveliness of a typical fishing village with its small terraced houses shines through. A 9-km-long beachfront offers opportunities for fun and pure relaxation. Welcoming and hospitable, it is appreciated throughout Europe for the quality of its services. There are many locations immersed in nature: from the green of the pine forests to the blue of the sea, the white of the salt mounds, the pink of the flamingos that populate the Salina (Saltern), the southern station of the Po Delta Park. Guests are also welcomed by the flavours of both the traditional and more innovative Romagna cuisines, which make use a special ingredient: the sweet salt of Cervia.
