Photographs courtesy of Canossa Events

The marble quarries of Carrara, the mighty walls of Lucca, the picture-perfect views of the Cinque Terre, the twisting routes that plunge into the greenery of Upper Versilia and the Garfagnana region, the Montecarlo vineyards, the lands of composer Giacomo Puccini, the architectural wonders of the ancient maritime Republic of Pisa, the Art Nouveau elegance of Viareggio... Every spring, these beautiful snapshots brighten the eyes and warm up the hearts of the crews of the Terre di Canossa International Classic Car Challenge, one of the most suggestive Italian events for classic cars and modern supercars. Trail rallies and driving skill tests put drivers through their paces over seven hundred kilometers on the road to discovering a stunning land on the border between Tuscany and Eastern Liguria, between sea and mountains, with Forte dei Marmi at its heart.

This year’s backdrop to the three-day event was precisely Forte dei Marmi. It served as a logistical hub and starting base for all the tour’s legs (headquartered at the Augustus Hotel). But it did more than that. Forte dei Marmi was the emblem and epitome of the sensations that the Terre di Canossa teams – primarily international – hoped to enjoy in this Italian experience: the adrenaline rush of sporting competition, the sight of captivating landscapes and monuments, five-star hospitality, luxury shopping, entertainment in exclusive locations, and the journey along food & wine itineraries seasoned with traditional recipes and the creativity of the best chefs in the area.

Joyfully greeting the arrival of classic cars (this year divided between “pre-war” cars produced up to 1990 and recent and contemporary supercars), Forte dei Marmi kept its promise and treated the gentlemen drivers to a warm welcome at each transit through Piazza Marconi, the promenade or the streets of the center. The springy freshness of the Versilia weather also played its part excellently, presenting the crews with a variety of weather conditions that, on the one hand, exalted the beauty of the natural scenery traversed during the competition and, on the other, made it even more challenging. Looking forward to seeing you next year!