For three decades, the Mille Miglia had been the ultimate test of endurance and elegance. From 1927 to 1957, it turned Italy’s roads into a stage where legends were made and the world’s greatest drivers competed for glory. But in 1957, the original Mille Miglia ran for the last time.

The race that year was fiercely contested. The young Spanish driver Alfonso de Portago, driving a Ferrari 335 S, was among the favorites. Ferrari had already built a dynasty in the Mille Miglia, and expectations were high. However, tragedy struck near Guidizzolo in Lombardy, when Portago’s car crashed, causing not only his and his co-driver’s death but also the deaths of several spectators.

This devastating accident shocked Italy and the wider motorsport world. It brought an abrupt end to the Mille Miglia in its original road-race format. Safety concerns, combined with the rising speeds of powerful postwar cars, made it impossible to continue such a race on public roads.

Despite the tragedy, 1957 was also the year of Piero Taruffi’s greatest triumph. Known as “The Silver Fox” for his experience and calm driving style, Taruffi had announced that 1957 would be his last competitive race. True to his word, he drove flawlessly in his Ferrari 315 S, winning the Mille Miglia at an average speed of 152.9 km/h,  and then retiring immediately afterward.

He remains the only driver to have won the Mille Miglia and retired the same day, turning his victory into a poetic farewell.

The Mille Miglia ended as a race, but it began a new life as a legend. Today, through events like the 1000 Miglia Experience Greece, we celebrate not only the triumphs but also the stories and lessons of this extraordinary history.

Because the Mille Miglia is no longer about risk,  it’s about remembering, reliving, and sharing the passion for classic cars on roads that still whisper the tales of heroes.