If there’s a catwalk for classic cars, it lies beneath the cypress trees of Lake Como, where vintage Ferraris glide like swans and polished Bentleys shimmer under the Italian sun. This is no ordinary show—it’s the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, a rarefied ritual of grace, grandeur, and gears. Held annually on the shores of Cernobbio, this event is less a car show and more a living museum where time-traveling machines whisper tales of craftsmanship, innovation, and beauty. Here, style is not trend-driven—it’s eternal.
The Venue: Villa d’Este – A Tapestry of Time
Nestled in baroque splendor, Villa d’Este—a 16th-century palace turned luxury hotel—is more than just a backdrop; it’s the soul of the event. Once a retreat for European aristocracy, it now plays host to automotive nobility. With frescoed ceilings, magnificent gardens, and the ever-reflective waters of Lake Como beyond, the villa seems made for this very purpose: to frame each vehicle as an object of art.
The way a 1950s Maserati curves into the cobblestone courtyard feels predestined—almost spiritual. This is what happens when heritage meets horsepower.
The Parade of Icons: Automotive Masterpieces
At the heart of the Concorso lies its main event: the procession of roughly 50 handpicked vehicles, each curated as though it belonged in a private gallery. These are not just old cars; they are mechanical masterpieces—each a time capsule, a sculptural feat.
Take the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Spyder California SWB, which captured the Coppa d’Oro in 2023 with its sensuous proportions and quiet swagger. Or the ethereal 1956 Maserati A6G/54, whose shimmering paint seemed to breathe under the sun. Cars from Bugatti, Lancia, Aston Martin, and Pegaso arrive in a regal procession, engines murmuring like well-mannered royalty.
The Awards: Celebrating Excellence
While every car is a stunner, only a few ascend to automotive Olympus.
Coppa d’Oro Villa d’Este
The most romantic prize, awarded by public vote, celebrates the car that steals hearts. It’s democracy at its most glamorous.
Trofeo BMW Group – Best of Show
This is the jury’s highest honor, where design, authenticity, and condition converge. Past winners read like a who’s who of 20th-century automotive royalty.
Trofeo Ragazzi
Perhaps the most touching: a prize chosen by enthusiasts under 16. In 2023, their pick—a 1952 Pegaso Z-102 Cupula, looked like something out of a cosmic opera, complete with bubble-top canopy and futuristic fins.
In a world racing toward AI and EVs, this is where sentiment still matters.
“At Villa d’Este, cars don’t just drive—they perform. Each curve, chrome detail, and engine note is part of a grander composition where elegance is eternal and every vehicle tells a love story written in steel.”
Beyond the Classics: Modern Marvels and Concept Cars
And then, in a gleaming contrast, come the Concept Cars & Prototypes—modern visions standing like sci-fi sculptures among the vintage grandeur. In 2022, the Pagani Huayra Codalunga Longtail Coupe made waves, blending 60s-inspired elegance with space-age muscle. It earned the Design Award, a category introduced to bridge nostalgia with what’s next.
These modern marvels don’t clash with the classics—they echo them, proving that good design isn’t bound by decade.
The Experience: A Feast for the Senses
It’s not just what you see—it’s how it makes you feel. The low purr of a vintage Alfa Romeo, the scent of aged leather interiors, the glint of sunlight on a freshly chromed grille. This is a multisensory immersion.
And then there’s the fashion. Guests arrive in linen suits, silk scarves, and retro sunglasses, mirroring the elegance of the cars they’ve come to admire. Here, style is both on four wheels and two legs. Think of it as The Met Gala meets Mille Miglia.
Champagne flows, orchestras play, and even the shadows feel choreographed.
The Legacy: Impact on Automotive Culture
This is not a static celebration—it’s a living, breathing influence on the world of design and collection. A win at Villa d’Este skyrockets a car’s value and sets the tone for restoration trends across the globe. But more than market impact, the Concorso is a torchbearer for automotive preservation, reminding us that the past has a place in the present.
In an age of silent electric whirs and algorithmic driving, Villa d’Este dares to indulge the romantic notion of the car as art.
The Eternal Allure of Elegance
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este isn’t just about looking back—it’s about holding on. To elegance, to emotion, to the sublime joy of a perfectly curved fender.
So whether you’re a collector, a fashionista, or simply a dreamer, this lakeside gathering offers something rare: a glimpse into a world where time doesn’t rush but rolls by gracefully on whitewall tires.
And in that brief, glittering moment, elegance doesn’t age—it endures.
