Six-day centenary edition of the annual historic rally
Take a collection of extraordinary classic cars, add a thrilling challenge, then throw in a spectacular backdrop and flag-waving Italian crowds, and you’ll find yourself immersed in one of Italy’s most dazzling events. The Mille Miglia is arguably one of the world’s most iconic classic-car road rallies, and when it comes to the centenary anniversary, you know the bar will soar even higher. In any year, the Mille Miglia is where racing history, remarkable cars, glamour and striking Italian scenery all blend to form an unforgettable event. The 2027 centenary edition is planned to recreate much of the character of the original 1927 event, with historic roads and locations incorporated into a route that has been designed to echo that of 1927.
What is the Mille Miglia?
The Mille Miglia is a 6-day event in which historic cars participate in a long-distance road rally through Italy, covering approximately 1600km. With restricted eligibility and attracting an international audience, participants range from private collectors and classic car enthusiasts to a small number of celebrities. But it’s the street festival atmosphere surrounding the event that is the big appeal for onlookers. The cars whizz through town centres, villages, piazzas and the countryside, along roads lined with cheering spectators and awash with Italian flags and in the evenings, locals and tourists crowd into central piazzas to view the collections of Ferraris, Alfa Romeos and Maseratis lined up at start/finish areas in atmospheric settings.
History of the Mille Miglia
The first Mille Miglia took place in 1927. Originally an extraordinary speed road race from Brescia to Rome and back (around 1,000 miles), the course was completed in a little over 21 hours. In the 30 years that followed, the race became one of the world’s most dangerous road races, attracting some of the world’s greatest drivers, but in 1957, a fatal accident involving the driver Alfonso de Portago, his co-driver and spectators, brought an end to the high-speed race. Its reincarnation in 1977 framed the event as a historic car rally, rather than a speed race, and today’s event is essentially a historic car showcase, with timed tests, precision driving and navigating all playing their part.
Who can enter the Mille Miglia?
Over 400 two-person crews from 29 countries took part in the 2026 event but the fundamental entry requirement lies primarily with the car. You’ll find all the top manufacturers’ names on the participants’ list, including Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Maserati, but sadly, zooming up in the latest Ferrari doesn’t secure admission. The rules specify that the car itself or its model must have participated in the original Mille Miglia between 1927 and 1957 and be registered with the Registro 1000 Miglia. However, occasionally, a car that hasn’t previously competed but is deemed historically significant will be admitted.
Where can I see the 2027 Mille Miglia?
While the 2027 race will follow closely in the footsteps of previous events, it will be characterised by several key elements. Reminiscent of the 1927 race, the course returns to a looped route, following the original anticlockwise direction and finishing in Brescia. This is the 2027 route:
Monday 24 May Brescia – Parma
starting in Brescia, the spiritual home of the 1000 Miglia.
Tuesday 25 May Parma – Florence
including Modena, one of Italy’s great automotive centres, and finishing in Florence’s Piazza Santa Croce
Wednesday 26 May Florence – Rome
through Arezzo, Siena’s scenic Piazza del Campo and Pienza
Thursday 27 May Rome – Cervia
through Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio and Macerata
Friday 28 May Cervia – Verona
through Ferrara, Padua, Valdobbiadene (the heartland of Prosecco) and Vicenza, to Verona
Saturday 29 May Verona – Brescia
via Lakes Garda and Iseo, and Franciacorta, returning to Piazza Vittoria in Brescia.
If you’re joining our Wilds of Abruzzo tour (14-22 May 2027), why not extend your holiday in Italy to take in the 2027 Mille Miglia? With the tour ending in Rome, you’d be perfectly placed to experience the rally at its halfway point. The exact route is still to be confirmed but the traditional Rome arrival is around Villa Borghese and Via Veneto. If you’re joining our Slovenia and Friuli tour (1-9 June 2027), you may wish to kickstart your holiday exploring the wines of the Veneto region and catching a glimpse of the rally in Padua or Vicenza.
For full details of the Mille Miglia 2027, please visit https://1000miglia.it/en/.