PlanYourItalianGrand Prix

Home race of Ferrari and their passionate Tifosi, perhaps no circuit is as evocative as Monza. Staged in a royal park north of Milan, it held the Italian Grand Prix at the start of the F1 World Championship in 1950. It has hosted nearly every Italian Grand Prix in the years since.

In the modern, Herman Tilke designed F1, the temple of speed is something of a throwback to a bygone era. Long, fast straights cut through the woods, connected to form an L-shaped track.

Though attempts have been made to dull it down with chicanes, historic Monza remains a high speed, thrilling sprint. Perhaps the only negative for spectators is the brevity — it’s the fastest race on the calendar, the race’s 53 laps are over in about an hour and 20 minutes.

For many F1 spectators, Monza is top of their bucket list. It charms visitors with sun-dappled walks through the woods, the aroma of Italian coffee and its raucous atmosphere.

Whether you’re taking a seat in the 1930s Centrale Grandstand or exploring the old banking, the history of F1 is tangible.

Forty-year-old graffitied messages to the sport’s heroes and villains of yesteryear adorn grandstands and walls. From messages of support for Gilles Villeneuve to crude comments for Bernie Ecclestone, the parkland is filled with historical easter eggs that you’ll have fun discovering. It all serves to make Monza an absolute must for any fans of motorsport.

Monza mornings are cool and crisp but the weather soon heats up, hitting the mid twenties during the hottest part of the day and sunny is the norm.