Building national excellence since 1927" - An exhibition at MIMIT that tells the story of "Made in Italy" in motion
Opening on 26 May at Palazzo Piacentini, an exhibition exploring history, industry and national identity through the legend of the Red Arrow. Open to the public from 25 May to 13 June.
From Brescia to Rome and back, on roads open to traffic, in less than 24 hours: when the 1000 Miglia took shape in 1927, no one imagined it would become one of the most recognisable symbols of Italian identity worldwide. Almost a century later, that story finds its natural home at Palazzo Piacentini - the heart of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy - where the exhibition "The 1000 Miglia d'ltalia. The construction of a national excellence since 1927" opens on 26 May, a visual and documentary journey dedicated to one of the most representative symbols of the country's industrial and cultural history.
Open to the public from 25 May to 13 June, the exhibition is organised by 1000 Miglia Sri, the in-house company of the Automobile Club Brescia.
THE RACE AS A NATIONAL ENDEAVOUR
Housed in the heart of MIMIT, the exhibition highlights the role of the 1000 Miglia as the consummate expression of Made in Italy: a synthesis of technological innovation, local culture and national manufacturing prowess. Not merely a sporting event, but a collective endeavour, the Red Arrow stands as a paradigm of Italy's economic and social evolution - and the choice of Palazzo Piacentini as the exhibition venue confirms its institutional recognition.
THE EXHIBITION ITINERARY
The exhibition itinerary is divided into two complementary thematic sections covering over ninety years of history. The first section, "On the roads of Italy", is an immersion in the dynamism of the race and the landscape: large-scale photographs and period materials celebrate the link between the "most beautiful race in the world" and the Belpaese, evoking the collective ritual that has united Brescia and Rome since 1927. The second, "In the Heart of Time", is a reflective space where the roar gives way to memory: minimalist display cases hold fragments of history, showing how the Red Arrow has become a symbol of excellence capable of evolving over time.
Created using sustainable materials, the exhibition is also accessible in English and via Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), with a view to full inclusivity.
As curator Elena Pala, a historian from the "Federico Chabod" Department at the University of Milan, points out, the exhibition stems from the idea of interpreting history not as a "static repository", but as a "dynamic and generative force", capable of connecting past and present and identifying the 1000 Miglia as one of the defining elements of contemporary Italian identity.
IDENTITY IN MOTION
The 1000 Miglia is not merely a memory - it is a collective identity in a state of perpetual construction. For nearly a century, the race has traversed the country not only geographically but culturally, fostering a sense of belonging that is renewed from generation to generation.
Aldo Bonomi, President of the Automobile Club Brescia: "Although the car remains the centre of our activities, the Club's mission has evolved towards a broader and necessary effort to promote the region. Teaching the younger generations the value of 'know-how', respect for the rules and pride in Brescia's roots means consciously investing in the future. The exhibition demonstrates how motoring culture can become a powerful tool for education and regional promotion".
ROME, BRESCIA AND THE COMMON THREAD OF ARCHITECTURE
The choice of Palazzo Piacentini is no coincidence. The building is the work of Marcello Piacentini - the same architect who designed the iconic Piazza della Vittoria in Brescia, the historic site where cars were sealed - and this architectural common thread between the ministerial headquarters in Rome and the Brescian agora visually underscores the deep interconnection between Rome and the city of the Red Arrow. A bond that the race has always embodied: Rome has always been the most spectacular turning point of the 1000 Miglia, the point where the route reverses and Italy reveals itself in its entirety.
Beatrice Saottini, President of 1000 Miglia Sri: "The exhibition welcomes visitors inside the prestigious Palazzo Piacentini, which becomes the ideal guardian of the entire narrative on display. The 1000 Miglia has always had its most spectacular turning point in Rome: an unbreakable bond that unites Brescia with the heart of the capital in an embrace that spans and celebrates the whole of Italy. Seeing the Red Arrow celebrated with such solemnity in this venue is a source of particular pride".
AN INDUSTRIAL ECOSYSTEM IN MOTION
Behind every car in the race lies an extraordinary chain of expertise: restorers, coachbuilders, mechanics and specialists in historic mechanics who combine engineering and craftsmanship, patience and passion. It is a supply chain that does not merely preserve objects - it sets them in motion once more, restoring the living embodiment of Italian excellence to the world. A production model that also looks to the future, integrating innovation, sustainability and international reach.
Fulvio D'Alvia, CEO of 1000 Miglia Sri: "The 1000 Miglia is not just a sporting event, but an industrial ecosystem of excellence. It is the symbol of a supply chain that combines high mechanical precision, visionary design and internationally recognised organisational skills. Here, the 1000 Miglia reaffirms its nature as an "enterprise": a collaborative project that generates value for local areas, promotes technological innovation and safeguards an invaluable historical heritage".
THE RACE CONTINUES
Looking ahead to its centenary in 2027, the 1000 Miglia stands as a contemporary narrative of Italy, capable of blending tradition and innovation and promoting the country worldwide, whilst keeping alive the link between historical memory and future vision.
The exhibition in May, the race in June: on 9 June, the historic cars will set off from Brescia for the forty-fourth edition of the re-enactment, crossing Italy in five legs - with stops in Padua, Montecatini Terme, Rome and Rimini - along a figure-of-eight route that intersects at Ferrara, before returning to Brescia on 13 June. In 2027, the Red Arrow will celebrate the milestone of its first century: a history that does not archive the past, but sets it in motion once more, transforming it each time into a contemporary experience.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Title: "The 1000 Miglia d'ltalia. The building of a national excellence since 1927"
Opening: 26 May 2026
Open to the public: Everyday from 25 May to 13 June 2026.
At weekends and on public holidays, including 2 June, from 10 am to 6 pm. To mark the arrival of the 1000 Miglia in Rome, on Via Veneto, a special late-night opening until midnight is scheduled for 11 June.
Venue: Palazzo Piacentini - Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Rome
Curator: Elena Pala Organised by: 1000 Miglia Sri
Admission: Free
