Via Flaminia of the Kings
Italy used to be divided in many kingdoms. And what do kings like to do ? Build castles and drink wine. They did not have motorcars in those days, so we will not only be drinking wine and visiting castles but also driving some wonderful roads.
We start in a village turned resort in the middle of a vineyard, not far from Bologna. The next day we drive along the Apennines south. We are the guest at the first of the castles on this journey and have some special wines during lunch. We follow the mountain ranges into Umbria and arrive at our hill-perched fortified village. We will be staying 2 nights here.
We are in the middle of a wine region we drive through the pleasant Umbria landscape and stop at yet another castle. Here we have not only a tour in the castle but also a tour into the vineyards with electric Jeeps. After lunch and some more wine tasting it is only 20 km to the hotel. Time for a dip in one of the two swimming pools.
We now cross the Apennines towards the Adriatic coast. A nineteenth century fort has been rebuilt into a luxury hotel, weather permitting, we will have dinner on the terrace overlooking the sea.
We cross yet again the Apennines but now we stop in Norcia, a city known for its truffles and fine salami. We park our cars on the main square and stay in the newly rebuild luxurious hotel with its Michelin star restaurant. Driving the high plane abo
ve Norcia will bring you in awe. If it is your first time, be surprised; if it is not your first time, enjoy it again and see new colours.
From Norcia we cross Umbria into Tuscany, we stay two nights in the fortified village of Capalbio, high on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean. The second day will be a short one, the rally finishes at the beach where we have lunch and – if you want – a swim.
The closing ceremony is in one of the fine restaurants in Capalbio.
Throughout this rally we take the smaller roads, not much traffic, allowing for a steady pace. Driving is just enjoyable, see it as vacation.
Like on all the rallies organized by Via Flaminia, there is a slight competition element, the aim is to make the discussions at the bar livelier even if some do take the competition for the last place more seriously. There is plenty of time to stop for a cup of coffee or to take some pictures. The only time schedule is to be in time for lunch and back at the hotel.
If you wish so we can bring your car to the Bologna Airport and ship her back from Fiumicino Airport.
There are 30 entry positions for cars up to 1940.
If you wish so, then you can have your car shipped from Holland to Italy. The cars will be delivered on Saturday at the Bologna Airport Hilton, ready to drive the 90 km to the first hotel.
The first hotel is a fine resort located in the middle of lush vineyards on the northern edges of the Apennines. We will be welcoming you with a wine tasting. A pleasant way to meet the participants which you know from previous rallies or to welcome the new ones.
We will be driving the forgotten Italy, or – putting it in a different way – Italy like we imagine it should be and once was. Rural Italy, no pretentions, small farmhouses, people living from and with nature. We drive along the Apennines, not much climbing, just enjoying the drive. The roads are empty.
Lunch is planned in one of the many castles on the way. As it seems the castles are all connected with a wine house. What better excuse for tasting some wonderful Colli di Trasimeno wines
We stay two nights at our wonderful hill perched hotel/castle. So, we want to make it a leisurely day. We drive into Umbria, from hill-perched village to hill-perched town, the scenery relaxes you, the aromas make you happy and the engine snores, it is vacation.
We visit yet another fantastic castle which serves as winery and we will be shown around the grounds and have a degustation of their best wines.
The vineyard is only 25 km from the hotel so we will be back early and have time to indulge in one of the two pools.
We once stayed in a prison, the prison where Mussolini was incarcerated during the war, high in the mountains, far away from any civilization. We now stay in a fort, at the sea and in a natural park.
It is only by coincidence that I came across this little jewel, I was told about a beautiful road along the sea, then I saw a sign to the fort, it turned out to be a hotel with an excellent cuisine.
And now, for 2023, six years after discovering it, we will be staying there.
We came across a wonderful castle, this time however it is not a winery. But we could not resist. Typical regional dishes will be prepared by a small restaurant in Castelraimondo the mother stands in the kitchen together with some aunts and the son serves the meals.
Almost forgetting to mention: it is a rally, the scenery is soft, the hills are gentile and the driving enjoyable. We are on the way to the sea.
It was during our first pre-war rally in 2011 that we last stayed in Norcia. Palazzo Seneca was not finished yet and the Michelin star restaurant was not in operation.
This would become one of the most memorable days of the Via Flaminia. We were free to choose one of the many restaurants in town. The café on the square was closed, so we bought a bottle of wine at the “norceria” (delicacy shop) and some famous Norcia salami to accompany it. The bottle was soon followed by a second one, a next one and the last one in the shop. The owner had the day of his life, he called his supplier to bring him some more wine and salami. Then he called his wife that it would be a late evening.
By then some of the ladies were pole dancing on the square. Pictures are censured.
The upgrade participants will be staying in the very classy Palazzo Seneca. Other participants will be staying across the street in the recently rebuild Grotta Azzura Hotel.
Diner will be in the Michel star Vespasia restaurant in Palazzo Seneca.
We will be driving the planes above Norcia which are the raison d’être of the Via Flaminia. These planes are so wonderful, they inspired me some 20 years ago to organize a rally in Italy. The rest is history.
Two nights ago we were at the Adriatic coast, we are now heading to the Mediterranean coast; to Capalbio, a hill-perched town which I discovered some 25 years ago while on vacation, we were looking for a place to have coffee, seeing the town we left the Via Aurelia, had our coffee, and were so charmed by the place that we ended up having lunch and staying overnight.
It is an effortless drive, slowly we come back into civilization and meet the occasional motorist. This is also the day we leave you absolutely free, you can choose your own place for lunch and, in Capalbio there are many fine restaurants to choose from.
We will be staying two night in the comfortable Valle del Buttero hotel. Valle del Buttero means valley of the cowboys. In Etruscan and Roman times the Maremma region in which Capalbio lies was well settled and known for its farms, which were drained by subterranean canals. During the later years of the Roman Empire, the region declined rapidly. Drainage was neglected and malaria became endemic. After unsuccessful attempts in the 18th and 19th century reclamation began under Mussolini and was finished in the fifties.
The last day will be an exceptional one. If you hadn’t noticed yet, we are in Italy. And Italians do everything with the family and they like nature. And they like to be beautiful and healthy. So, they take sulfuric baths, not being rich, they go to Saturnia where there are open air cascades where you can take a dip.
But on your bathing suit and join them, it is an experience, and it is said that it cures all illnesses and keeps you young !
At the finish you will need your bathing suit again. We finished there in 2014 and it was a great success. This small restaurant at the beach serves excellent fish lunch. The atmosphere at the end of a rally at the sea is just awesome.
From the beach it is only a drive up the hill to the hotel.
The price awarding ceremony will take place in one of the many typical restaurants in Capalbio. Food is excellent and the atmosphere will be lively.
It is only a short drive over the Via Aurelia to the Fiumicino Airport where a trailer will pick up your car.
We will coordinate the pick-up time depending on the best flights to everyone’s destination.
Herman de Jong (NL)
Vera de Jong (NL)
David Feakes (UK)
Christine Feakes (UK)
Jean Pierre Debucke (B)
Ilse Teirlinck (B)
Berend van den Broek (NL)
Marina Thienpont (NL)
Erik Wilmink (NL)
Nicola Wilmink (NL)
Robert Rebergen (NL)
Ineke Rebergen (NL)
Martin Aaldering (NL)
José Aaldering (NL)
Hans Kuipers (NL)
Marien Kuipers (NL)
Rob Jeurissen (NL)
Jeanne Jeurissen (NL)
Tom Gatsonides (NL)
Wico Mulder (NL)
Ruud Wesselink (NL)
Miriam Wesselink (NL)
Petr Rysavy (CZ)
Tania Rysava (CZ)
Roland van Pelt (NL)
Francis Driessen (NL)
Michel Laarman (NL)
Maryan Greif (NL)
Renger Guliker (NL)
Gerda Guliker (NL)
Harm Altena (NL)
Gerja Rijnders (NL)
Hatebur Roland (CH)
Patrizia Nägeli (CH)
Per Mogensen (DK)
Helle Roen Mogensen (DK)
Bob Janssen (NL)
Fred Janssen (NL)
Klaus Ziegner (D)
Anja Höffken (D)
Terkel Ovesen (DK)
Birgitte Ovesen (DK)
Henk Sonnenberg (NL)
Joan Sonnenberg Nauta (NL)
Cees Willemse (NL)
Ingeborg van ‘t Hof (NL)
Michel Vock (CH)
Corinna Vock Rigassi (CH)
Carel Jan de Bruin (NL)
Irmelin Knepflé (NL)
Ronald Zieltjes (CH)
Joke Schoon (CH)
Roger Goodwin (UK)
Gillian Goodwin (UK)
Rally Details
Start: Saturday June 3
Borgo Condé Wine Resort
Via delle Caminate 50
47121 Forlì (FC)
Finish: Friday June 9
Valle del Buttero
Via I. Silone, 21,
58011 Capalbio (GR)
Included
- A maximum of 30 crew
- Seven nights in excellent hotels.
- Six dinners.
- Four or five lunches.
- Technical assistance.
- Large commemorative photo book
- Raidillon Watch for the winners
- Via Flaminia clothing.
- Roadbooks, rallyshields etc.
Entry fee
Booking fee
Registration for a crew of two: € 5.690, -.
Upgrade (you are on top of the list for the best rooms): € 650, –
Transportation
To Italy:
Transportation of your car by truck from Holland to the Bologna Airport: € TBA
From Italy:
Transportation of your car by truck from the Fiumicino Airport to Holland: TBA
From and to the UK:
We will inquire if there is sufficient demand.
You are responsible for booking your own flight.
Total kilometers
Total rally kilometers: 1100
From Bologna Airport to the first hotel (start): 90 km
From the finish hotel to Fiumicino Airport: 125 km.
MAIN SPONSORS
PARTICIPATing sponsors
Launching sponsors
