October 19, 2023: Candeli (FI), October 2023 – Delighted collectors and the participation of a substantial number of enthusiasts. The inaugural edition of “Villa La Massa Excellence” enjoyed a triumphant debut, an event conceived and created by Villa La Massa, a 5-star hotel on the outskirts of Florence and part of Villa d’Este Hotels, in collaboration with Canossa Events, dedicated to high-end hospitality and the most exquisite Youngtimers, collectable supercars built after 1990.
A three-day event from October 13th to 15th captured the attention of a large audience. Villa La Massa became the exclusive rendezvous for supercar collectors from around the world who showcased their most beautiful cars with sporting pedigrees and modern design.
Saturday, October 14th, was a day of considerable attendance. Open to the public, enthusiasts immersed themselves in the hotel’s splendid park to admire iconic feats of automotive engineering, with the opportunity to vote for their favorite car. The “People’s Choice” award went to the Porsche 911 GT2 “996”, produced from 1993 onwards.
But that’s not all. Among the attendees was a Junior Jury, consisting of children, who enthusiastically chose their favorite – the Lamborghini Murcielago SV. This early passion for cars underlined Villa La Massa as an ideal destination for families. There was also a strong presence of a younger demographic, marking an interesting trend compared to other automotive events.
During the gala dinner on Saturday, hosted by “Atto” di Vito Mollica in Palazzo Portinari Salviati in central Florence, the “Supercars Firenze” awards were presented. These were judged by an international jury comprising: Tomaso Trussardi, fashion and car expert; Emanuela Frattini, an internationally acclaimed architect and designer; Stephen Bayley, style guru and critic of design and architecture; Fabio Filippini, car designer and author; Stefano Guindani, fashion photographer and charity expert; Duccio Lopresto, collector and a director of RM Sotheby’s; Marco Makaus, a veteran in the automotive sector and event organizer. The jury was chaired by Massimo Delbò, editor-in-chief of Cavallino Magazine. The evening was presented by the host, Ilaria Fratoni, and Marco Makaus, serving as a storyteller and spokesperson for the judges’ votes.
The Ferrari F40Prototipo clinched the “Coppa d’Oro Villa La Massa” award, reminiscent of the Villa d’Este “Coppa d’Oro” award for the Concorso d’Eleganza, an automotive icon with a timeless and evocative design, forever etched in history since the moment it was conceived. This iconic vehicle was presented at Villa La Massa Excellence by the owner of Officina Michelotto, Ferrari’s long-standing partner who had collaborated in the development of this iconic model at the time.
Below are the award-winning cars:
Innovation Category:
- Third place: Lamborghini Diablo GT
- Runner-up: Ferrari F40 Prototype
- First place: Porsche Carrera GT
Evolution Category:
- Third place: Ferrari 550 GTC
- Runner-up: Lamborghini Murcielago SV
- First place: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Best of show, Coppa d’Oro Villa La Massa: Ferrari F40 Prototipo
Longest ownership: Ferrari F40 Prototipo
Highest mileage: Audi RS2 Avant
Longest drive: Touring Superleggera Aero3
Racing Heritage: McLaren F1 XP LM
Villa La Massa & Canossa’s Choice: Ferrari 812 Competizione
During the awards ceremony, Davide Bertilaccio, CEO of Villa d’Este Hotels, and Luigi Orlandini, Chairman & CEO of Canossa Events, took the stage.
“The passion for automobiles has been an integral part of Villa d’Este for over 90 years,” Bertilaccio explained, “and, speaking on behalf of our shareholders, we are particularly proud to have extended this sentiment to Villa La Massa, our jewel in Tuscany. Our gratitude goes to all participants, the prestigious jury, sponsors, Canossa Events, and the teams at Villa La Massa and Villa d’Este. We hope this event becomes a permanent and iconic fixture in the years to come.”
“We began discussing this event some time ago when it was just an idea, and today, we are here celebrating this inaugural edition,” said Orlandini. “We hope it marks the first in a long series of events dedicated to this category of automobiles, which are now riding a wave of popularity. Villa d’Este Hotels Group has a rich history, and even though Canossa is a relatively young company, founded in 2011, but already with an international dimension, and offices in three continents; there has been a beautiful collaboration between us, and I am delighted and proud to share these days with all of you”.
The event concluded on Sunday, October 15th, as the participating Supercars departed Villa La Massa for a spectacular tour along the Chiantigiana route, culminating in Panzano in Chianti for a meal at the Antica Macelleria Cecchini.
An inaugural edition that exceeded all expectations, offering promising prospects for the future. The second edition of Villa La Massa Excellence is already scheduled for October 2024.
Canossa Team