The Mille Miglia, Italian for “thousand miles”, is a legendary car race that has been held in Italy since 1927. Originally, the Mille Miglia was a long-distance race on the public roads of Italy. The race started in Brescia, after which it took a tour through the Italian countryside via Rome and ended back in Brescia. The route was a thousand Roman miles long, which is equal to approximately 1.600 kilometers.
The Mille Miglia was conceived by two Italian men, Aymo Maggi and Franco Mazzotti, who wanted to share their passion for speed and cars with the public. The race was held annually from 1927 to 1957, with a break during the war years. The event attracted iconic racing cars and famous drivers, including brands such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche. Due to the high risks and several fatal accidents in the 50s, the race was stopped in its original form in 1957.
Since 1982, the Mille Miglia has been held as a rally for classic cars, where only vehicles built between 1927 and 1957 that have ever taken part in the race are allowed to participate. Every year, around 400-500 classic cars take part in the rally. This event, also called a “rolling museum”, attracts car enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world and continues to be a tribute to Italian motorsport and culture. And that is not surprising, because the Mille Miglia is considered one of the most beautiful and famous historic rallies worldwide.
At the Metropole Museum we proudly present several classic cars that have competed in this legendary race. One of the gems in our collection is the stunning Alfa Romeo 8C 2900A Botticella, better known as “La Bella Rossa”. In 2021, Frank van Haren participated in this famous rally with La Bella Rossa, where the car once again showed its beauty and performance on the Italian asphalt. For us, the Mille Miglia remains not just a race, but a tribute to craftsmanship, history and passion – all perfectly embodied in this iconic Alfa Romeo.
Want to see these beautiful cars in real life?
Then come visit our museum!
