Last updated: October 2026
It’s tranquil up in the Tuscan hills, except on motorsport days.
During a morning walk with my daughter in Castelvecchio, we heard rally cars coming through the village, so I captured the moment.
The cars were between rally stages, which are run on closed roads nearby. When we saw them, they were moving from the village of Vellano to the next timed section at Stiappa, using open public roads.
My daughter joined the local kids cheering them on at the side of the road.
Although they appear to be going quite fast, it’s not half the speed they travel when they’re rallying against the clock.
If you’re in the valley on rally day
- The timed stages run on closed roads, sometimes for hours, so check local notices before you drive up the valley.
- Watch from a safe spot well back from the road, and do what the marshals tell you.
- The cars are loud! Little ones may want to cover their ears.
You might also enjoy:
- Le Dieci Castella: a driving route through the Svizzera Pesciatina
- Sagra del Beccutino: Stiappa’s Ferragosto festa
- Festa of the Ham Sandwich: Castelvecchio’s Sagra del Panino con il Prosciutto
Susan
