Swiss Alps + Italian Lakes ( Mille Miglia / Ferrari 296 )
Discussion
Part 1
My lad and I normally do Le Mans but decided for a change this year to head down to the Mille Miglia via the Swiss Alps taking a week and a half holiday. It’d been planned to take the Portofino, but it decided to bork itself so we ended up taking the 296. Suprisingly huge front trunk swallowed all our luggage and off we set.
First stop was Portsmouth for the crossing to Le Havre, we’ve a long drive to the ferry so it gives a chance for a rest on board, we got put on the bottom deck with the HGV;s on the still Condor branded ferry, result as it meant we were first car off at around 6.30pm.
First night was just a quick stop and the Mercury at Fontainblu URY saw us just south of Paris. Ok restaurant and large car park and just off the main A6 route south. Lot of flies in France, made the number plate appear tinted……
The next night we hit Switzerland for a couple of days driving the mountain passes, stopping first at Hotel and Naturresort Handeck - about half way along the Grimsel Pass, really nice place, heated outdoor pool, super restaurant, a few metres from the best bit of the pass which leads on to the best bit of the Furka Pass.
From there we had a full morning on the passes before heading west to Andermatt
My lad and I normally do Le Mans but decided for a change this year to head down to the Mille Miglia via the Swiss Alps taking a week and a half holiday. It’d been planned to take the Portofino, but it decided to bork itself so we ended up taking the 296. Suprisingly huge front trunk swallowed all our luggage and off we set.
First stop was Portsmouth for the crossing to Le Havre, we’ve a long drive to the ferry so it gives a chance for a rest on board, we got put on the bottom deck with the HGV;s on the still Condor branded ferry, result as it meant we were first car off at around 6.30pm.
First night was just a quick stop and the Mercury at Fontainblu URY saw us just south of Paris. Ok restaurant and large car park and just off the main A6 route south. Lot of flies in France, made the number plate appear tinted……
The next night we hit Switzerland for a couple of days driving the mountain passes, stopping first at Hotel and Naturresort Handeck - about half way along the Grimsel Pass, really nice place, heated outdoor pool, super restaurant, a few metres from the best bit of the pass which leads on to the best bit of the Furka Pass.
From there we had a full morning on the passes before heading west to Andermatt
Part 2
Raddison Blu was home for a night, modern new hotel, huge indoor pool, a short stroll from various restaurants we ate at the local ‘Asian’ as it’s termed and then had a 70’s fondue in the evening. Great underground car park with car maintenance and car wash bays, but on balance the prior nights hotel is better for the best bits of the passes. Suprised it was nudging 35’ in the Alps!
Next day was off to Italy, we chose the Gotthard Pass over the faster long tunnel option and it was mind blowing, really pretty. Car went up in EV mode and was fully charged by the bottom - got some funny looks when we swooshed by silently.
From there we pressed on carefully minding our speed in Switzerland until we passed through to Italy, to reach our hotel Podere Castel Merlo for the night (near Lago Iseo). Again good parking, great restaurant, huge rooms, cold pool - ideal for 35’ heat.
Raddison Blu was home for a night, modern new hotel, huge indoor pool, a short stroll from various restaurants we ate at the local ‘Asian’ as it’s termed and then had a 70’s fondue in the evening. Great underground car park with car maintenance and car wash bays, but on balance the prior nights hotel is better for the best bits of the passes. Suprised it was nudging 35’ in the Alps!
Next day was off to Italy, we chose the Gotthard Pass over the faster long tunnel option and it was mind blowing, really pretty. Car went up in EV mode and was fully charged by the bottom - got some funny looks when we swooshed by silently.
From there we pressed on carefully minding our speed in Switzerland until we passed through to Italy, to reach our hotel Podere Castel Merlo for the night (near Lago Iseo). Again good parking, great restaurant, huge rooms, cold pool - ideal for 35’ heat.
Part 3
When we skirted Milan we took in the Alfa Museum at Varese and grabbed lunch, it s a stunning place .
We then headed for Sirmione, Lake Garda for a couple of nights for the Mille Miglia - hotel right on route, with guests able to have lunch / drinks on the roadside. Not expensive, great ac, nice cool pool and lake Garda views, plus a short walk to the bustling centre of Sirmione lake Garda seems the best priced off all of the Italian lakes and has the race running through it .
My son brought his DJI drone along, I still can t believe they are £250 for such a high quality camera and intelligent drone!
When we skirted Milan we took in the Alfa Museum at Varese and grabbed lunch, it s a stunning place .
We then headed for Sirmione, Lake Garda for a couple of nights for the Mille Miglia - hotel right on route, with guests able to have lunch / drinks on the roadside. Not expensive, great ac, nice cool pool and lake Garda views, plus a short walk to the bustling centre of Sirmione lake Garda seems the best priced off all of the Italian lakes and has the race running through it .
My son brought his DJI drone along, I still can t believe they are £250 for such a high quality camera and intelligent drone!
Edited by bennno on Tuesday 17th June 22:23
Part 4 - Ferrari Tribute followed by Mille Miglia
Stunning, odd mix of modern and classic Ferraris for the tribute, it’s a regularity trial and subsject to normal speed limits but it appears nobody told the police as they are only encouraging cars to drive fast
Then followed by the Mille Miglia
I’ll post a bit more later as we are heading back north towards the uk tomorrow.
Biggest surprise it’s it’s non commercialised, cost nothing to spectate, hotel was inexpensive next to the route, cost us less than our normal Le Mans jaunt on a like for like basis. Been really enjoyable.
Stunning, odd mix of modern and classic Ferraris for the tribute, it’s a regularity trial and subsject to normal speed limits but it appears nobody told the police as they are only encouraging cars to drive fast
Then followed by the Mille Miglia
I’ll post a bit more later as we are heading back north towards the uk tomorrow.
Biggest surprise it’s it’s non commercialised, cost nothing to spectate, hotel was inexpensive next to the route, cost us less than our normal Le Mans jaunt on a like for like basis. Been really enjoyable.
NomadicTurbo said:
Great photos and write up OP!.
Love the car and love the plate!
We stayed at the Radisson Blu in Andermatt in 2023 and they were still building the surrounding area so ate in the hotel.
They still are to a degree, although there are 3-4 restaurants adjacent and then the old town was a 10 minute walk for a much bigger choice.Love the car and love the plate!
We stayed at the Radisson Blu in Andermatt in 2023 and they were still building the surrounding area so ate in the hotel.
Indeed handy, or else it'd have been an EV Trip or Fiat Panda....
Part 5
We had a great evening after watching the MilleMiglia cars come through, our hotel Miramar Sirmione was about £140 a night but very comfortable and they organised tables for guests adjacent to the cars coming past in the road immediately outside. Mix in friendly staff, a cold pool and lake views and we will return, only a small place with 20 rooms.
Up early this morning to push on back towards ferry, we planned one stop near Macon and to use the Mnt Blanc tunnel for expediency (plus i didnt want to go back through the drivers nightmare that is Switzerland - mb tunnel was 60E!!).. Motorway by Milan was a ball ache due to accidents and volume of traffic - but scenery pretty
I recalled Chamonix was just the French side of the MB Tunnel so we turned in to find lunch- but it's sadly devoid of parking and has some of the biggest speed humps I've ever seen (twice as big as you can imagine and less than ideal for a very low car) So we very carefully navigated our way out and back on the autoroute.
Arrived for overnight near Macon - leaving about 6-8 hours to the Ferry tomorrow dependent on via Paris (quicker) or Tours / Le Mans (slower).
Overnight stop is the impressive sounding Chateau De Bessuil - vua bookings it was just 114E and is a huge chateau with a nice pool and secure parking inside the courtyard, room seems decent and there's z bar and restaurant on site.
Can anyb0dy recckmed a good restaurant or stop near Ouistream or in the vicinity please?
We had a great evening after watching the MilleMiglia cars come through, our hotel Miramar Sirmione was about £140 a night but very comfortable and they organised tables for guests adjacent to the cars coming past in the road immediately outside. Mix in friendly staff, a cold pool and lake views and we will return, only a small place with 20 rooms.
Up early this morning to push on back towards ferry, we planned one stop near Macon and to use the Mnt Blanc tunnel for expediency (plus i didnt want to go back through the drivers nightmare that is Switzerland - mb tunnel was 60E!!).. Motorway by Milan was a ball ache due to accidents and volume of traffic - but scenery pretty
I recalled Chamonix was just the French side of the MB Tunnel so we turned in to find lunch- but it's sadly devoid of parking and has some of the biggest speed humps I've ever seen (twice as big as you can imagine and less than ideal for a very low car) So we very carefully navigated our way out and back on the autoroute.
Arrived for overnight near Macon - leaving about 6-8 hours to the Ferry tomorrow dependent on via Paris (quicker) or Tours / Le Mans (slower).
Overnight stop is the impressive sounding Chateau De Bessuil - vua bookings it was just 114E and is a huge chateau with a nice pool and secure parking inside the courtyard, room seems decent and there's z bar and restaurant on site.
Can anyb0dy recckmed a good restaurant or stop near Ouistream or in the vicinity please?
bennno said:
Part 3
When we skirted Milan we took in the Alfa Museum at Varese and grabbed lunch, it s a stunning place .
The Alfa Romeo museum is in my opinion the best car museum in Italy ,by far , much older than all the supercar marques and thus way more history and also better than the national motor museum in Turin .When we skirted Milan we took in the Alfa Museum at Varese and grabbed lunch, it s a stunning place .
Went in 2016 on the morning the Mille Miglia started , so couldn't spend as long as I could have and have failed to revisit in both 2023 and 24 due to FIAT problems ,which has also prevented me from going anywhere this year .
Museum is in Arese ,suburb of Milan not Varese which is not a million miles away .
W i d e body said:
The Alfa Romeo museum is in my opinion the best car museum in Italy ,by far , much older than all the supercar marques and thus way more history and also better than the national motor museum in Turin .
Went in 2016 on the morning the Mille Miglia started , so couldn't spend as long as I could have and have failed to revisit in both 2023 and 24 due to FIAT problems ,which has also prevented me from going anywhere this year .
Museum is in Arese ,suburb of Milan not Varese which is not a million miles away .
Think I added a V, you are correct Went in 2016 on the morning the Mille Miglia started , so couldn't spend as long as I could have and have failed to revisit in both 2023 and 24 due to FIAT problems ,which has also prevented me from going anywhere this year .
Museum is in Arese ,suburb of Milan not Varese which is not a million miles away .
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