I luoghi della 1000 Miglia 2025 – Leg 1

LEG 1 – TUESDAY 17th JUNE

After the departure from Viale Venezia, the competing cars will head towards Valle Sabbia, passing through Prevalle, Gavardo and Villanuova sul Clisi. From there they will continue in the direction of Lake Garda, passing through some of the most picturesque places in the area: Manerba del Garda, Moniga del Garda, Soiano, Padenghe sul Garda, Desenzano sul Garda, Sirmione and Peschiera del Garda will welcome the crews. The first leg will then continue towards Verona, passing through Bovolone and Ferrara, until reaching San Lazzaro di Savena, site of the first leg finish.

Prevalle

Prevalle, a corner of beauty surrounded by nature, history and traditions

Prevalle is a village that enchants visitors with its simplicity and authenticity. Nestled between the morainic hills and the Chiese River, it offers a varied landscape where nature, history and everyday life blend harmoniously.

One of the historical symbols of the village is Palazzo Morani, an elegant 18th-century building that now houses the municipal library and numerous cultural activities, becoming a reference point for the community. Not far away, the Chiese River flows through the territory, offering picturesque views and peaceful corners ideal for walks, excursions and moments of relaxation in nature.

Among the environmental wonders is the Buco del Frate Nature Reserve, a site of great geological and landscape interest, which houses a karst cave surrounded by lush vegetation. An ideal place for those who love trekking and discovering the hidden treasures of the area.

Prevalle is also rich in green spaces, public parks and cycle paths, designed for well-being and socialising. Popular traditions, patron saint festivals and food festivals enliven the town throughout the year, creating opportunities for people to meet and socialise.

Visitors to Prevalle will discover an authentic place, rich in history, nature and humanity, where it is easy to feel at home.

Gavardo

At the entrance to the Valle Sabbia and close to Lake Garda

The town of Gavardo, with the hamlets of Sopraponte and Soprazocco, is located at the entrance to the Valle Sabbia and close to Lake Garda, and is the most populous municipality in the area. The ancient historic centre is surrounded by hills that are very popular with walkers, mountain bikers and road cyclists thanks to the trails and paths that characterise them. Gavardo can also be reached via the Gavardina cycle path, which runs alongside the Naviglio Grande Bresciano canal, connecting Brescia with the Valle Sabbia and Lake Garda. The Naviglio canal originates from the Chiese river and both waterways cross the historic centre, creating a strip of land in the middle called Isolo, which hosts a summer music festival.

Other places of interest include the mill dating back to 1528, the ancient Church of San Rocco and the Monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli.

Gavardo is home to the MAVS Archaeological Museum of Vallesabbia, which houses finds ranging from the Middle Palaeolithic period, discovered thanks to excavations in Lake Lucone in Polpenazze, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the Roman era, with a beautiful terracotta water bottle and burial objects from the Lugone necropolis in Salò. The MAVS also houses the third oldest door in Europe.

Thanks to local sports clubs, various national events are organised throughout the year.

The food and wine menu of the numerous restaurants in the centre and the surrounding hills allow you to enjoy traditional Brescian dishes and much more.

Manerba del Garda

Nestled in a charming hilly hinterland

Overlooking the picturesque shores of Lake Garda and nestled in a charming hilly hinterland, Manerba del Garda is an ideal destination for those seeking nature, culture and relaxation. The heart of the area is the Rocca e del Sasso nature reserve, Italy’s first lake reserve, which protects an area of 200 hectares of land and 80 hectares of lake, rich in biodiversity and archaeological finds.

Dominating the lake, La Rocca di Manerba offers breathtaking views and preserves the remains of ancient Bronze Age settlements and a medieval castle. Not far away, in the waters of San Sivino, are the remains of a pile-dwelling village declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With 11 km of coastline, family-friendly beaches and the beautiful island of San Biagio – accessible on foot at low tide – Manerba is a paradise for lake lovers.

From June to September, Manerba comes alive with a programme of events for all tastes. The evenings offer live entertainment, from the “Minerva Musicae” International Jazz Festival to concerts, theatre, open-air cinema, festivals and popular celebrations, happenings in the ports and food and wine tastings. Mornings are a surprise with sunrise concerts, yoga, Qigong and excursions in the Reserve. The summer ends with a magical event at dawn on the island of San Biagio.

On the table, local specialities such as Brescia-style spit-roasted meat, Whitefish, Pike with polenta and Perch, accompanied by a glass of Rosa or Rosso Valtenesi wine.

Moniga del Garda

Where the beauty of the lake meets liveability, services and attention to residents and tourists alike

Moniga del Garda, on the Brescia side of the lake, offers a splendid pedestrian promenade that starts from the marina, overlooking calm waters and breathtaking views. The small square in the port is the beating heart of lake life, bustling with bars and restaurants where you can enjoy an aperitif or dinner with a view.

From here, a 3.5 km walkway leads towards Padenghe sul Garda, overlooking the lake, ideal for sunset strolls or moments of relaxation. Benches, bars and picturesque views make it perfect for families and visitors of all ages. In the opposite direction, towards Manerba, there is a stretch of about 1 km, which ends in a convenient dog beach with a magnificent view of the Sirmione peninsula.

To make the experience even more enjoyable, the town centre has recently been redeveloped: the charming Piazza San Martino is now entirely pedestrianised, making it the ideal place for events, markets and peaceful strolls. To facilitate access, the road system has been modified: Via Carlo Alberto is now one-way, while a new road connects directly to the car parks under the town hall, with an exit onto Via XXV Aprile. Moniga is thus an increasingly welcoming destination, where the beauty of the lake meets liveability, services and attention to residents and tourists alike.

Soiano del Lago

Welcome to Soiano, where beauty runs hand in hand with history.

Soiano del Lago is a charming village located on the morainic hills of Valtenesi, overlooking Lake Garda. Known for its tranquillity and wonderful views, Soiano del Lago combines history, nature and tradition in a landscape of rare beauty. Dominated by a majestic medieval castle, now a venue for cultural events and exhibitions, the village has a charming old centre with narrow streets, a parish church and the castle framing wonderful views of the lake. Surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, it is one of the municipalities synonymous with the production of extra virgin olive oil and local wine, the excellence of the Garda food and wine tradition. The area offers numerous cycle and footpaths that wind along quiet country roads, ideal for walks and bike rides surrounded by nature. Soiano del Lago warmly welcomes visitors and tourists, offering a charming journey through history and nature, with the authentic atmosphere of a territory that lives in harmony with the landscape. The tranquillity, the beauty of the landscape and the strong identity of the village make it a special stop for tourists, capable of simply expressing the soul of Lake Garda. Soiano del Lago is a little gem that deserves to be discovered, loved and remembered.

Peschiera del Garda

The fortress town, a mixture of lake and river

Located south of Lake Garda and close to Lake Garda’s outflow, the Mincio, Peschiera was built by modifying the natural course of the river that surrounds it: in fact, to enable the city’s defense, three outflow branches from the lake were built, which then come together south of the town, with the characteristic historic center that spreads over islets connected by bridges. One above all is the Ponte dei Voltoni, a structure with beautiful terracotta arches, overlooking the Canale di Mezzo, where the boats of Peschiera del Garda’s fishermen dock neatly, overlooking the islet below, beyond which the waters of the Benaco flow into the river.
Since 2017, the Venetian town has been included in UNESCO ‘s Venetian Defense Works between the 16^th and 17^th centuries: Western State of Land – State of Sea, thanks mainly to the presence of the Venetian Republic’s bastions and Napoleonic fortress: in particular, the Fortress, also known as the Rocca, is a small architectural jewel, enclosed in an imposing pentagonal-shaped wall, dating back to the 16^th century, with beautiful bastions and imposing access gates.

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.

San Lazzaro di Savena

On the outskirts of Bologna and crossed by the Via Emilia

The first leg of the 1000 Miglia 2025 will arrive in San Lazzaro di Savena, a town which, despite being located on the outskirts of Bologna and crossed by the Via Emilia, a stone’s throw from the ring road and the A14 motorway, boasts a truly extraordinary natural and environmental heritage. The territory of San Lazzaro extends to the Parco dei Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell’Abbadessa, a protected natural area recently included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites for its important karst system, which makes it unique in Europe.

The natural park, the Savena, Idice and Zena waterways, which are important biological conduits, and a vast and well-maintained urban green zone make it a veritable garden on the outskirts of Bologna. San Lazzaro di Savena borders the provincial capital, whose centre can be easily reached thanks to a punctual and efficient public transport system (bus and train).

Chosen in the past by the Bolognese nobility as a summer retreat, as evidenced by several wonderful villas, the most famous of which is Villa Cicogna attributed to Jacopo Barozzi, known as Il Vignola, San Lazzaro boasts a number of illustrious citizens, such as Alberto Tomba, Cesare Cremonini, Gianni Morandi, Cristina D’Avena and the writer Loriano Macchiavelli. Not to mention Giuliano Canè and his wife Lucia Galliani, who won 10 editions of the Mille Miglia.