Hot on the heels of the Giro d’Italia came the Mille Miglia…Thousand Miles. The original Mille Miglia was run in Italy 24 times from 1927 to 1957, with a break during the war years.
The race was reborn in 1977 as a race for classic and vintage cars. Participation is limited to cars produced no later than 1957. The route is similar to the that of the orignal race, from Brescia – Rome round trip. Luckily for us the route this year included Bagni di Lucca.
The weather was not as kind to the cars as it was to the bicycles earlier in the week.
It was raining when the first cars came through.
Hardy souls gathered regardless.
The first cars to come through Ponte a Serraglio were the new Ferraris and other modern sports cars.
These were great and the noise they made as they sped off up to La Villa was amazing. But the cheers really went up for the beautiful old cars. We would be here all day if I showed all of them…around 400, so I will just show you a selection.
There was a special treat when a beautiful blue Bugatti driven by a beautiful boy stopped for a while in the piazza.
He drove off with the sound of deep sighs in his wake.
…and they all drove off to Parma for the night. Wouldn’t it be fun to be in this race? You just need lots and lots of money, and a fair bit of dedication.
See Bella Bagni di Lucca for more on the Mille Miglia.
Love these old cars! Any celebrities driving this year?
By: timelessitaly on May 18, 2015
at 1:54 pm
There were, but I didn’t know who they were.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2015
at 8:02 pm
Oh my my …. all those vintage cars. No wonder you weren’t photographing from your balcony!
By: aFrankAngle on May 18, 2015
at 2:31 pm
I needed to be much closer this time.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2015
at 8:03 pm
Paul is so jealous……if he had lots and lots of money he would again love to own an antique car……before marriage he had a 29′ Cadillac sedan. Unfortunately sold to buy us some of our first marriage furniture. We saw similar road rally in Ferrara two years ago…..
By: sealights99 on May 18, 2015
at 4:37 pm
What a pity you had to sell the car!
By: Debra Kolkka on May 18, 2015
at 8:03 pm
It would be lots of fun to be in that race. There are many beautiful boys in Italy. The cars are also beautiful
By: Lyn on May 18, 2015
at 8:06 pm
I would love to take part in that race, but I can’t see that ever happening. Watching will have to do.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:01 pm
[…] a look at Bagni di Lucca and Beyond for more […]
By: Mille Miglia comes to Ponte a Serraglio | Bella Bagni di Lucca on May 18, 2015
at 8:27 pm
Aren’t they lovely – some of them are very ‘Isadora’. Those were the days when one ‘motored’ in style.
By: Jan on May 18, 2015
at 10:24 pm
So do of them are beautiful. Apart from Bugatti I really like number 164.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:02 pm
What a wonderful mix of vintage cars !!
By: Lorraine Wagner on May 18, 2015
at 10:51 pm
Aren’t they beautiful? It must be fun to own one.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:02 pm
Is that Stoker, with a permanent glass of wine stuck to his hand ??
By: Richard the terrible on May 18, 2015
at 11:31 pm
Yes, it is Paul admiring the Bugatti.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:03 pm
Jim also wishes he had been standing next to Paul with a glass a wine!
By: Kerry & Jim on May 19, 2015
at 12:02 am
It was great fun to be a tiny part of the race.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:03 pm
Garry has been through these photos one by one twice loves them all how great to see them all cheers
By: Helen Close on May 19, 2015
at 1:36 am
There were so many beautiful cars. I hope we see the race again somewhere.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:04 pm
What a pity the weather changed with so many open sports cars in the parade: not much fun sitting in a water bath!! *smile* But methinks I’ll stay with my cyclists: see the countryside much better that way!!
By: Eha on May 19, 2015
at 3:08 am
I’ll have the cars thanks. Cycling uphill is not for me ever.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:05 pm
Looked fabulous and colourful – wish I was there 🎈🇮🇹
By: Liz Litzow on May 19, 2015
at 3:31 am
It was great fun to see and hear them come through Ponte.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:05 pm
Great photos of some fabulous cars – wish I was there too!
By: chris oconnor on May 19, 2015
at 7:23 am
I fell very lucky to be at Ponte for the race.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:06 pm
congratulations Deb this is what we car lovers love to see years ago I was a spectator at the Mille Miglia – how amazing are your photographs… Excellent – can hear the noise of the engines as they corner and go up those winding roads .
By: Dianne CANT on May 19, 2015
at 7:27 am
They really liked that little stretch up the hill. The noise from the new cars was incredible.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:07 pm
Lovely photos Debra – you had an excellent spot and captured some terrific shots! It was much nicer once the rain let up. I am disappointed that no one offered a ride in their lovely vehicle 🙁
By: sheilasunshine on May 19, 2015
at 7:57 am
Yes, I’m sure it would have hurt to take us for a spin.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:08 pm
It was a fantastic event! We had a lot of fun. Great photos!
By: Mulino Dominillo on May 19, 2015
at 11:16 am
You actually got to be part of it…17minutes from Lucca to Ponte!
By: Debra Kolkka on May 19, 2015
at 6:08 pm
Ahh Italians and their cars! There are some real beauties there too! 😀
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on May 21, 2015
at 1:55 pm
A few years ago we accidently found ourselves caught up in the raceat Poggibonsi . The police thought our old Merc was a classic and waved us through! We had no idea what was going on until we had been overtaken by several amazing cars!
By: June Finnigan on May 21, 2015
at 4:32 pm
John would go ballastic over these vintage cars! He would love to be in your place up close and personal with those beautiful old cars. Great photos, Deb. Did I detect your sigh when the ‘beautiful boy’ left in his Bugatti?
By: Sandra Hoopmann on May 22, 2015
at 1:09 am
[…] after came the most beautiful road race in the world, the Mille Miglia. Once again, it came past our […]
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at 1:18 pm