The Lioness of Italy cradle of the Red Arrow
Since 1927, the 1000 Miglia has been identified with the city of its origins: Brescia. The place that is past, present and future, soul and heart of the race, starting point and finishing line since its first edition.
Brescia and the four musketeers
The Lioness of Italy owes a lot to Giovanni Canestrini, Franco Mazzotti, Aymo Maggi and Renzo Castagneto, the ‘Four Musketeers’ who gave life to an event that is still known today as the ‘most beautiful race in the world’.
A story that began in Milan with the lighting of the first spark in the winter of 1926, and grew over time through evolutions and extraordinary moments, to arrive at the present day. Thanks to the founders, since 1927 the places and the name of the city have been inextricably linked to the Red Arrow.
Renzo Castagneto, the Deus ex machina of the 1000 Miglia
Since the end of the 1920s, Renzo Castagneto, from his office as Director of the Automobile Club of Brescia, held the reins of a huge organisation, 1.600 km long, maintaining contact with car manufacturers and drivers from all over the world. In spite of having a character that was anything but easy, the organiser was held in high regard, maintaining good relations with everyone, and displaying a remarkable insight for the tastes of the general public.
Castagneto’s unquestionable organizational skills demonstrated with the 1000 Miglia led him, over time to the helm of the Targa Florio, the Grand Prix of Italy, the Giro d’Italia cycling race and the Tripoli-Tobruk, but is to Brescia and its race that his name remains tied.
The set-up and the public of Brescia
Castagneto had been active so that Brescia could offer collateral events in support of the Race, decorating the city with the colors of the Red Arrow, displayed on flags, banners, torches and lighting.
The setting up of Piazza della Vittoria, with its umbrellas and chatacteristic wooden barriers, was a great success, to the point that the square was the most photographed Italian in those years, adding lustre and fame to the city and to the 1000 Miglia.
The citizens could live the race from far away thanks to the loudspeakers that diffused the live coverage and to the scoreboards that showed the classifications on Corso Zanardelli. Over the years, other events took place in the city, from competitions to children’s parades, exhibitions, minting of medals, the issuing of postage stamps, even to the “1000 Miglia for carrier pigeons”. The atmosphere created by Castagneto, to which the international character of the city’s guests contributed, made Brescia, for a week, what the “director” wanted: the Capital of world motoring.
Sealing Ceremony between 1927 and 1931
One of the most representative places of the Red Arrow is Piazza Vittoria, where the sealing ceremony still takes place today.
Since work on the square only began in 1929, the first editions of the Race were prepared in the “enclosure of the Wührer Brewery”, not far from Viale Venezia, which has always hosted the start of 1000 Miglia.
In 1931, or perhaps already in 1930, probably due to the need for more space because of the higher number of participants, the sealing ceremony was moved to the Foro Boario, south of Viale Venezia.
The origin of Piazza Vittoria
It didn’t take too long for the sealing ceremony to find its final setting. The works on of Piazza Vittoria lasted less than three years and the intervention, which radically changed the face of the heart of the city, represented the final solution to problems of space related to the preparatory stages of the 1000 Miglia.
At the end of the works and without waiting for the official inauguration, held in November 1932 on the occasion of Benito Mussolini’s visit, in April Renzo Castagneto moved here the sealing ceremony, showcase and catwalk for the famous people, not only from the automotive world, who arrived in Brescia.
Bruno Boni: the Mayor of the 1000 Miglia
After World War II, the then Mayor of Brescia, realized the importance and usefulness of an event of worldwide interest for the community, thus becoming one of the most fervent supporters of the 1000 Miglia in Italy and working alongside Renzo Castagneto in the organization of the race.
So, while Castagneto, on the wooden platform of Viale Venezia, waved the checkered flag of the arrival, Boni waved the flag at the start. The Mayor of the 1000 Miglia, instead of the national flag, usually used for the start of the races, opted to wave a white and blue flag with the colours of the city.
Continue reading the history of the 1000 Miglia
Explore the next chapters to discover the main events that have made the 1000 Miglia car race known all over the world: from the origins to the latest editions of the regularity race.
millemigliaofficial
Passing from one place to another, the participants of the Most beautiful race in the world have to carry out the Passage Controls (PC/CT), one of the key sporting activities of a regularity race such as the #1000Miglia 🕹️🚗
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Passando da un luogo all’altro, i partecipanti alla Corsa più bella del mondo devono effettuare i Controlli Timbro (CT), una delle attività sportive fondamentali di una gara di regolarità come la # 1000Miglia 🕹️🚗
May 24
millemigliaofficial
As the official timekeeper of the 1000 Miglia, @Chopard is proud to introduce the brand new Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph. Get ready to race in style and surpass yourself at the upcoming edition starting on June 13.
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In qualità di official timekeeper della #1000Miglia, Chopard è orgogliosa di presentare il nuovissimo Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph. Preparati a competere con stile per superare te stesso alla prossima edizione il 13 giugno.
#Chopard #MilleMiglia #1000Miglia2023 #RacingInStyle #SurpassingOneself
May 19
millemigliaofficial
Trovi il link nelle storie e in bio /
The link is in our stories and in bio
#forzaemiliaromagna
May 19
millemigliaofficial
💔🙏🏻
#forzaemiliaromagna
May 18
millemigliaofficial
📍Macerata
One of the places that will welcome the #1000Miglia2023 will be Macerata, a city of a thousand souls that boasts one of the oldest universities in the world and numerous architectural and artistic masterpieces. In the centre of the city in the Marche region, in Piazza della Libertà, the competing crews will carry out a Passage Control.
📍Rome
After a break, the cars will head towards our Capital, the turning point of the race: the splendour of Rome will welcome the most beautiful race in the world at the end of the second day.
🗓️🚗 Save the date: Wednesday 14 June
Discover the other places of leg 2 in the stories📲☝️
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📍Macerata
Tra i luoghi che saluteranno la #1000Miglia2023 ci sarà anche Macerata, città dalle mille anime che vanta una delle più antiche università al mondo e numerosi capolavori architettonici e artistici. Nel centro della città marchigiana, in Piazza della Libertà, gli equipaggi in gara effettueranno un Controllo Timbro.
📍Roma
Dopo la pausa le auto si dirigeranno verso la nostra Capitale, imprescindibile giro di boa della gara: la bellezza di Roma accoglierà la Corsa più bella del mondo alla fine della seconda giornata.
🗓️🚗 Save the date: Mercoledì 14 Giugno
Scopri gli altri luoghi di tappa 2 nelle storie📲☝️
@comunedimacerataofficial @Roma
#1000Miglia #iluoghidella1000miglia #macerata #Roma
May 17
millemigliaofficial
See you in a month! 🤩⏳
All the details at the link in bio ☝️📲
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Ci vediamo fra un mese! 🤩⏳
Trovi tutte le info al link in bio☝️📲
#1000Miglia #1000Miglia2023
May 13
millemigliaofficial
Let’s relive the passage to San Marino at last year’s #1000Miglia with a 1934 Fiat 508 S Balilla Coppa Oro 🚗 😍
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Riviviamo il passaggio da San Marino alla #1000Miglia dell’anno scorso insieme a una Fiat 508 S Balilla Coppa Oro del 1934 🚗 😍
May 10
millemigliaofficial
This year the first leg of the most beautiful race in the world will pass through #Verona: a perfect marriage between one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the most fascinating examples of historic motoring 😍
At the end of the day the #FrecciaRossa will be welcomed by one of the main resorts of the Riviera of Romagna, #CerviaMilanoMarittima, famous for its beaches, historic salt pans from the Roman era, and pink flamingos 🦩
🗓️🚗 Save the date: Tuesday 13 June
Discover the places of the #1000Miglia2023 leg 1 in our stories 📲☝️
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Quest’anno la prima tappa della Corsa più bella del mondo attraverserà #Verona: un matrimonio perfetto tra una delle più belle città al mondo e gli esemplari più affascinanti dell’automobilismo storico 😍
In conclusione della giornata la #FrecciaRossa sarà accolta da una delle principali località della Riviera Romagnola, #CerviaMilanoMarittima, famosa per le spiagge, le storiche saline di epoca romana e i fenicotteri rosa 🦩
🗓️🚗 Save the date: martedì 13 Giugno
Scopri i luoghi della tappa 1 di #1000Miglia2023 nelle storie 📲☝️
#1000Miglia #iluoghidella1000miglia
May 8
millemigliaofficial
Together with the first weekend of May, the #1000MigliaWarmUpCH also begins!
The crews are ready for a pure #1000Miglia-style experience to learn and perfect regularity racing techniques while driving through the most beautiful landscapes of southern Switzerland 🏞️🚗⏱️
For all updates follow 📲👉@millemigliawarmupch
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Con il primo weekend di maggio inizia anche il #1000MigliaWarmUpCH!
Gli equipaggi sono pronti a vivere un’esperienza in puro stile #1000Miglia per imparare e perfezionare le tecniche delle gare di regolarità attraversando i panorami più suggestivi della Svizzera meridionale 🏞️🚗⏱️
Per tutti gli aggiornamenti segui📲👉@millemigliawarmupch
May 5
millemigliaofficial
The most beautiful race in the world is less than two months away ⏳
In the meantime, let`s enjoy the scenery and a 1950 Healey 2400 Silverstone at the #1000Miglia2022.
Discover the details of the #1000Miglia2023 at the link in bio ☝️ℹ️🚗
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Mancano meno di due mesi alla Corsa più bella del mondo ⏳
Nel frattempo godiamoci il panorama e una Healey 2400 Silverstone del 1950 alla #1000Miglia2022.
Scopri i dettagli della #1000Miglia203 al link in bio ☝️ℹ️🚗
Apr 27
millemigliaofficial
This 1936 Aston Martin 2 L.Spa Special is a real gem, the #1000Miglia is timeless beauty 💎🚗🤩
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Questa Aston Martin 2 L.Spa Special del 1936 è un vero gioello, la #1000Miglia è bellezza senza tempo. 💎🚗🤩
Apr 25
millemigliaofficial
Happy Birthday @Roma, a city that has welcomed the #1000Miglia with great enthusiasm since the first edition in 1927.
The unique travelling museum crosses the eternal city and offers a show that enchants and fascinates participants in the Race: what better occasion to admire the great beauty of the capital city from the privileged viewpoint of the seat of a historic car?
🗓️ The appointment is for Wednesday 14 June. See you soon, Rome!
Will you be there too? 🤩
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Buon compleanno @Roma, città che sin dalla prima edizione del 1927 accoglie con grande entusiasmo la #1000Miglia.
Il museo viaggiante unico al mondo attraversa la città eterna e regala uno spettacolo che incanta e affascina i partecipanti alla Corsa: quale migliore occasione per ammirare la grande bellezza della capitale dal punto di vista privilegiato del sedile di un’auto storica?
🗓️ L’appuntamento è per mercoledì 14 Giugno. A presto, Roma!
Ci sarai anche tu? 🤩
#natalediroma2023 #Rome #21Aprile #1000Miglia #1000Miglia2023
Apr 21