[rally route]   [accommodation]

RALLY ROUTE

NB: The amount of listed kilometres refers to the daily kilometres which the Tour class has to drive.

Friday, May 23th At the end of the afternoon the participating cars will board the car train in Düsseldorf (260 km from Hoek of Holland) just in time to enjoy a drink in the dining room when passing along the Loreley and the many castles along the Rhine river. The station is conveniently located over a shopping mall with many restaurants so that participants arriving early can spend their time while buying a last snack or newspaper. Before arrival in Verona the breakfast is served while driving through the Southern flanks of the Dolomiti.

Saturday, May 24th

Arrival in Verona at 10 o'clock in the morning. Departure over the motorway and principal roads to the actual start of the rally; the lunch at a small restaurant overlooking the walls of Mantova. For those arriving early it is only a 15 minutes walk over the river to the city centre and the Tazio Nuvolari museum. The afternoon will be a relatively small trip over the foot of the Apennines towards the Parma region. (225 km)

Sunday, May 25th For those who think that the only mountains in Italy are the Alps, this will come as a chock. The Apennines are a formidable barrier separating the Po Valley from the south. We will cross this barrier and have a lunch at the small village of San Pellegrino in Alpe. This day also sees a pilgrimage in the village, it is up to the priest to decide at what time the procession will go through the village. We can only wait and pray.

After the lunch the Tour will pass Arno river, flowing from Florence, to San Miniato. The city is on old medieval town with its churches, fortifications, painted houses and the cloister. In fact about half the crews will sleep in the cloister. (220 km)

Monday, May 26th On Monday the Tour will leave early in order to go through the old town of Volterra. Some may be tempted to park their car on the central square in order to have a short coffee break. From here the Tour will go through some of the most beautiful scenery Tuscany has to offer, winding roads for which the classic cars have been designed at the time will lead us to the sulphuric terms of San Filippo. Here we will have a late lunch. From San Filippo it is only a small drive to the hotel in Capalbio.

Capalbio is one of the most exquisite little fortified towns of Italy; on the one side the forested Apennines, on the other side the Mediterranean Sea. Everybody is free to choose between spending some more time at the baths or to wander in the narrow streets of fortified Capalbio. The old town has a large quantity of excellent restaurants. This evening you are free to dine were you choose. (245 km)

Thursday May 24th This day we leave the lush hills of Tuscany in order to cross Umbria towards to foot of the Gran Sasso Mountains. On the border of Tuscany and Umbria we do have lunch at the little town of Orte. As much of the region the history probably goes back to the time of the Etruscans but the basement of much of the buildings is mediaval. The little square will be freed for us to park our cars. Everybody can eat at own expenses. However a guided tour will be provided into the underground galleries (picture of underground fountain). For security reasons the size of each tour is limited at 12 people.

In the afternoon it will become clear that we are leaving the cultural heart of Italy. The village are not only becoming smaller, so do the churches. An eternity of winding roads will bring us to our hotel in l'Aquila. (240 km).

Wednesday, May 28th

A Via Flaminia Tour would not be what it is without the high planes of the Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso. We take a magnificent winding road up the mountains, every curve brings another scenery and view down the valley. Hardly any traffic, but be aware of the sheep, cattle and horses. After having lunch at the Lago di Campotosto. we will go over one of the other standards in the Tour, the Piano Grande, above Norcia. Going down towards the high plane, which at this time of the year should be in flowers, we can see the cars in front of us speeding over the road. Norcia is well known as a centre of truffle, wild boar and, in fact everything that makes Italian cuisine so exquisite. We will have diner in a recently opened restaurant aiming for a Michelin star.

Thursday, May 29th The afternoon has a nice drive to the castle of Gargonza. This is the first time the castle was not sold out 12 months before the Tour. The Castle is a refurbished fortification from the medieval times. The atmosphere is stunning, and for those who took a light lunch: the food is excellent. (200 km)

From Norcia the Via Flaminia Tour will cross the road of the same name towards Perugia where we will be host of the local classic car club. Everybody can park their car in the central square and wonder around. The Tour class will get a relatively easy stretch of road so that they will be in time to marvel at this incredible city. The Sport class will find out that there are many very small roads in the Apennines and that most of them are not on the map. A good sense of orientation is required (as well as a survival kit).

Friday, May 30th The last day of the classification will bring us to the mountains where Alberto Tomba did learn to ski. We will once again leave Tuscany for the Apennines. This is the day for those who deserve to win to set themselves apart from the others. Great driving, very small roads for the Sport class and many curves for both classes. But this is the kind of road Italian cars are made for, so just enjoy it. (220 km)

Saturday, May 31th From Lizzano it is some 180 km towards the embarkation in Verona, which will take place at 17:00. This leaves you more than enough time to either visit Verona or the museo Nicolis, just south of Verona.