April 25, 2007

Europe | Italy | Tuscany

A Tuscan Taste of Speed

By Nicole Cotroneo

Get your fill of fast cars and fine wine during Italy's historic thousand-mile race.

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What’s the next best thing to driving a vintage Ferrari? Watching one blur red through the Tuscan countryside on a sunny afternoon — from your private villa. That’s how Gourmet on Tour hosts visitors who want to enjoy the Mille Miglia, Italy’s iconic Gran Turismo race celebrating its 80th anniversary next month. What started in 1927 as an open-road rally is now a three-day showcase of classic sports cars like Maserati, Aston Martin and, of course, Ferrari. When the start flag drops in Brescia on May 17, drivers will follow the original 1,000-Roman-mile course, speeding — not racing –- south to Rome and looping back to Brescia through the Tuscan hills. Gourmet On Tour’s guests can catch the race from Hotel Borgo di Cortefreda in the heart of the Chianti region. They’ll also tour nearby Florence and San Gimignano, enjoy private winery tours, and experience Castello del Nero, the area’s only luxury destination spa. But if you still can’t shake the prancing pony from your mind, luxury rental agent Power Service may be able to help. Their three to six-day Ferrari tours put you in the driver’s seat and send you off with a “crew” to care for the car and a “crew leader” to guide you through Tuscany’s most scenic landscapes.