Meeting of the Gracchi - Nepi, October 1, 2011
Although, according to the astronomical calendar, we're already in autumn, the good weather continues to await our daily outings, offering us the most classic of Roman Octobers: clear skies, bright sunshine, and pleasant temperatures, especially in the morning hours, when, early in the morning, the crews convening for the rally take their cars out of the garages to approach the meeting point. With the summer heat abating, the cooler, drier climate offers relief, both along the route and throughout the day, to the crews engaged in driving and to the engines of our beloved companions.
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This time, we're truly a big crowd: at the meeting in the main square of Castel Sant'Elia, in the shadow of the bell tower, we count 32 cars and 58 attendees; impressive numbers, the envy of a national gathering. Among them, two crews from Umbria and seven MGs, the latest models, belonging to the Friends of the MGF/TF Italian Friends group, driven by the very dynamic Patrizio Dessì, who shared this wonderful event with us.
We were greeted by the Mayor himself, who took us on an interesting tour of the historic center of the town that was the birthplace of Roberto Martinangeli. The town is entirely enclosed within the city walls, culminating on a rocky outcrop that, in turn, overlooks the surrounding gorge and offers a view of the Abbey of Sant'Elia below. After a short stroll along the ramparts of the walls, just to take some aerial shots of the square below, where our MGs are neatly lined up, we gathered for the traditional group photo on the overlook that borders the square, popping open bottles of Prosecco in a toast to a successful continuation of the day and a future return to Castel Sant'Elia to explore, at our leisure, the artistic and natural beauty we've just glimpsed.
After picking up the cars, we're in Nepi in a few minutes, and here too we park the vehicles, arranged in parade formation on the four sides of the main square, which has been entirely reserved for us for the occasion. It's like reliving a scene from 2003, during the sixth edition of the Settecolli Trophy, which that year began in Nepi's main square. However, comparing it with photos from the time, this time there seem to be even more cars. While waiting for our guide, who should have been there waiting for us but is still nowhere to be seen, we walk along the main street toward the Borgia castle, leaving the cars to the admiration of passersby, intrigued by this extraordinary and unexpected event. Arriving at the castle entrance, barred by an imposing square-mesh iron gate secured by a large padlock, we were pleasantly surprised by Emilio Brosio's initiative. He acted as our guide and began to tell us, with great expertise and a wealth of detail, about the history of Nepi and the fortress. After about ten minutes, we were joined by the breathless guide, who finally opened the castle gates for us. Although the fortress, which was shared in a sort of condominium by the Borgias (papal governors) and the Farnese (feudal princes), is largely in ruins due to repeated looting and the neglect of the owners who succeeded one another over time, who in many cases did not have the wealth to allow for the recovery and conservation of the vast complex, the visit lasts for a rather long time, which however seems to fly by in an instant due to the interest of the places, and culminates with the climb of the tower (seven floors connected to each other by steep wooden stairs, with an unreassuring appearance) from the top of which you can admire a breathtaking 360° landscape and behind which stands out, in the distance, the imposing silhouette of Mount Soratte.
When it's time for lunch, and with a certain hunger in their stomachs, our tourists in MG don't have to be asked too hard to reach the restaurant selected for the convivial meal, which fortunately is only a few hundred metres away by car (for the drivers) or on foot (for the majority of navigators).
This is also a very welcome return, made possible thanks to the generosity of Emilio, co-owner of “Casa Tuscia.”
Patrizia and Maurizio, who have run this popular restaurant since 2004, located in the old slaughterhouse just outside the town walls and dominated by the silhouette of the castle tower, have received numerous awards and rave reviews from leading guides. They once again welcome us with exquisite hospitality. We recall with deep pleasure, mixed with a hint of nostalgia, our first encounter with the Club, when, just before the restaurant's opening, they delighted us with local delicacies and the traditions of Tuscia, sheltered by a gazebo specially set up in the square for the aforementioned Settecolli 2003. As on previous visits (we returned to visit our two hosts as soon as the new restaurant opened), the service is impeccable and the menu top-notch. Lunch alone would be worth the trip, but the Gracchi gathering still has much more to offer.
Leaving Patrizia and Maurizio with some regret, we must hurry to the final stop of the rally: the Acqua di Nepi bottling plant, located a few kilometers from the town, in an area known since ancient times as the Terme dei Gracchi, a name borrowed from the Roman family who built it to exploit the mineral water sources and the magnesium and sulfur springs. The area, still called Graciolo today, a name also derived from the historic Roman gens, is characterized by thick, lush vegetation that, along with the flowing water, contributes to an extremely pleasant microclimate, especially at this time of year.
Patrizio Dessì, plant manager and passionate MGista, proves to be the perfect host, having set up in record time, in the internal yard usually reserved for loading and unloading goods, a real circuit on which vintage MGs and more recent cars compete in an exciting regularity race, expertly driven by crews of various ages, united by a common passion for the prestigious octagon brand.
The essence of this gathering, desired by the undersigned and Patrizio, long-cherished and finally realized, is all here, demonstrating that differences in age, thought, and status can be bridged with extreme ease and naturalness by sharing an identical, genuine interest that bears the name MG.
The younger crews, on board the most recent models (F and TF), behaved towards older cars and colleagues in an exemplary manner, demonstrating extreme composure and good manners such as to dispel any form of prejudice and mistrust regarding reckless and disrespectful conduct,
A special thanks to the sponsors of this gathering: Roberto, Emilio and Patrizio and to all the others who with their participation and their behaviour have contributed to making it unique and, perhaps, unrepeatable while our imaginations are already projected towards the next outing.
Claudio Nacca