Terre di Canossa Rally 2025

Story and photos courtesy Joe Hurwich and Friends

On May 6, 2025, Bob Goldberg and I met at the Rome airport for the beginning of the Terre di Canossa regularity rally of 600km on May 9. The rally started in Punta Ala, but we stayed overnight Tuesday about halfway in Porto Santo Stefano. By luck, this was a real find. Porto Santo Stefano is on a small island on the Mediterranean in a beautiful bay, and our hotel was right on the sea. Our rooms were less than 10’ from the ocean. I don’t know what they do when it is high tide.

On Wednesday we drove 1.5 hours to Punta Ala, also on the sea, where we retrieved my car, a 1931 Aston Martin Le Mans. Our hotel for the next 4 nights was the Gallia Palace Resort, a member of the Relais and Chateau collection, where we were the first to check in for the 2025 season. Punta Ala is on the Gulf of Follonica overlooking Elba Island and renowned for its long stretches of fine golden sand. It traces its history back to the Bronze Age.

The rally is named after Matilda of Canossa, a powerful medieval ruler whose domains stretched across Northern Italy. Her legacy is deeply intertwined with the region, making the rally not just a race, but also a journey through history. Participants drive through the lands that once witnessed political intrigue, noble alliances, and architectural marvels.

The Terre di Canossa Rally is a regularity race, meaning precision and strategy are more important than speed. The event spans three days, covering scenic routes across Liguria and Tuscany. We navigated time trials (PC’s) and average speed challenges (PM’s), similar to the Mille Miglia. The rally is designed to be an immersive experience where motorsport meets fine dining and cultural exploration and exceeded our dreams. Punta Ala is in the heart of Italy’s Food & Motor Valley, a region famous for its Lambrusco wine, Parmigiano Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar.

Eligible cars are those made from 1919 to 1976, and like the Mille Miglia, cars start in order of age. The field of almost 70 cars was exciting. Mine was the oldest, so was #1, but not the nicest. That honor went to car #2, an Alfa 8 C Monza Zagato from 1934. There were multiple Ferraris including two 275s, a 365GTB4 and a 308. Multiple Alfas including a 1900, many Giulietta Spiders and Sprints, and a Giulia. Many Triumphs and MG’s as well as single entries from various marques.

We started on Friday morning at the Punta Ala Yacht club and on to a parade in Massa Maritimma then on to a scheduled coffee break in the beautiful historic square in Volterra. I have friends from Oakland who moved to Volterra 4 years ago, so it was great to catch up. Lunch was at Monteriggioni, a 13th century medieval village. The day moved on through Tuscany with regularity events and ended at a beach about 20km from our hotel. Dinner was a spectacular event with cocktails and appetizers (a 40’ table of seafood and fish) by the pool followed by a great dinner.

Saturday, we started at the hotel and our 1st stop was the military airport in Grosetto. We wound our way through the mountains and valleys for a coffee break in Grosetto, the heart of the Maremma spanning the beaches of the Ligurian sea and the rolling hills of southern Tuscany-just spectacular scenery. Our afternoon coffee break was in Porto Santo Stefano for gelato. We then went to the top of the island for one of the most spectacular views anyone has ever seen, which by chance included an ocean liner arriving in the bay. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stop for photos because we were in the middle of a PM average speed trial. This promontory, overlooking the crystal-clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and facing the islands of Giglio and Giannutri, is famed for its breathtaking landscapes, dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and picturesque villages. We again ended back at the hotel in time for cocktails before a beach party.

Sunday’s run was a short 3-hour drive from the hotel. This area, which includes places such as the Val di Cornia and the hills surrounding the village of Bolgheri, is inextricably linked to the figure of poet Giosuè Carducci, who spent part of his youth there. The landscapes described in his works, with valleys, cypress trees, and rural scenes, remain today a striking snapshot of the past. We ended at a spectacular winery, Cantina Petra, with sparkling wine overlooking the rolling hills and then on to lunch at one long table for approximately 160 in the barrel room. Quite a site for the awards ceremony after lunch.

Thanks to the phenomenal navigating of Bob, we finished 11th overall, 1st in the Prewar class and 1st of the Americans. Clearly my best results in the years that I have been doing these regularity events. Thank you, Bob!

The Terre di Canossa Rally is more than just a race—it’s a journey through time, a celebration of Italian heritage, and an unforgettable experience for motorsport enthusiasts. Whether you’re drawn to the thrill of competition or the allure of history and fine dining, this event offers something truly special.