Road to Forza Italia – A Catharsis Drive
A LONG AND EXCITING ROAD
The idea of making road trips in vintage cars has been in my head for a long, long time. It simply is how I imagine classic motoring, by jumping into the vehicle and going for a gran turismo somewhere remote. It is how they did it back in the years, isn’t it? Let’s keep it real and close to the roots!
Yet, during good six years of owning a classic I have never managed to complete such a trip. Of course, living away from where the car is stored during pandemic times does not help, but there was much more to it. I believe I also needed to mature to understand that things can go wrong with classics… and that it is okay! Cars are meant to be driven – I used to repeat it all the time – but only now was I ready to walk the talk. Or should I say drive?
DAY 1 – COPENHAGEN TO JÖNKÖPING
When I got my current Italian classic the drill for the summer was therefore pretty simple. I knew I wanted to do a road trip and I also love the annual Forza Italia meeting – a car event organised by my like-minded friends in Warsaw. If you connect the two, the result is pretty straightforward. So also seemed the route, as I have driven from Copenhagen to Warsaw and back quite a few times already, through Germany. For this exact reason I decided to put a different spin on it… and head north!
My first day started a little bit later than planned and I did not depart as early as I wanted to. No stress, right? This is supposed to be pure fun and pleasure! The weather was quite Scandinavian as for June, with small drizzle and grey skies. I packed up my Alfa Romeo 1750 GT Veloce and headed to Sweden through the Øresund Bridge. The views on planes approaching the runways at the Copenhagen Airport, followed by a 4-kilometre long tunnel and then a 8-kilometre long bridge with open-sea views on either side are marvellous.
I first headed alongside the coast up north to Halmstad. It was a little bit off route but when I was planning my first stage, I decided I could not miss the beautiful sea view at Tylösand. The vintage gas stations on the way and eventually the calmness of the sea and its relaxing seascape was well worth the diverting. It was getting late so I decided to drive to my first stop already – Mullsjö, near Jönköping.
On the way I was called by my hotel and offered a switch, which I happily accepted. Turns out, I will be sleeping by a lake instead tonight! To top it all off, on the hotel tower which accommodated my room there was… a ski jump. Such things can happen only in Scandinavia, cannot they? After a great dinner I took a short walk in a pleasant but cool weather and headed to bed. It was a great day!
DAY 2 – JÖNKÖPING TO UPPSALA
Waking up in the middle of the forest is always a pleasant experience. After a quick breakfast I fired up the Alfa, already deserted by her much younger parking companions. We headed to nearby Jönköping for a quick kanelbulle and coffee on the old town, before starting our second stint for real. The plan for the day was to get to Uppsala, driving the country roads and off the motorways as a general mantra for the entire trip.
Whilst the Skåne region is very similar to Denmark and the nearby Copenhagen metropolitan area, just 200 kilometres north the landscapes become much more diverse. Passing through a marvellous old town of Gränna with the views on Vättern lake was an amazing experience. Very picturesque were also the endless rapeseed fields beautifully contrasting with Falu red barns, scattered everywhere.
The approach to Uppsala was breathtaking, too! After countless lake stops I drove over the Kvicksund Bridge with lake views reaching way beyond the horizon. I wish I could stop and admire this beautiful panoramic but unfortunately – no stopping on the passageway! That day, it took me good ten hours to cover slightly more than 400 kilometres. I just could not help it, on these roads you would want to stop at every corner.
DAY 3 – UPPSALA TO STOCKHOLM
Uppsala marked the northernmost point for me in the entire history of my travels. It could be easily noticed by the evenings being much longer than in Copenhagen, already quite bright during summertime. The city was vibrant, with youngsters celebrating their graduations on the streets. I really enjoyed both my evening and morning walks, with the cathedral and castle majestically overseeing the city.
Following friend’s recommendation, I took the advantage of very short drive on day three and diverted to sightsee Sigtuna. A small town midway between Uppsala and Stockholm is believed to be one of the first Swedish settlements. With its scenic wooden houses besides the single-road old town, it made one of the highlights of the day. Having relaxed a bit in the yacht marina I drove the remaining distance to Stockholm.
The Swedish capital is far too big a city to fully get to know and sightsee in a pill. Staying for the weekend with a local friend, though, usually makes all the difference. Despite having lived in Stockholm for less than a year, Piotr has shown me not only the typical touristic attractions, but also some nooks and crannies of the old town not many people would visit. Sunny weather kissed us with Scandinavian sun and despite being so far north, we really got tanned!
DAY 4 – A FERRY RIDE TO GDANSK
Some of you might have already wondered... If I am heading to Warsaw, why am I driving up north in Sweden? Alternating the route kept the mileage very similar to the ordinary drive through Germany, but involved taking a ferry from Nynäshamn to Gdańsk. On this stage I was joined by Piotr, who also headed for the Forza Italia meeting.
It was my first time travelling by ferry on such a distance, with complimentary sleeping onboard. Since everyone told me various stories about their experiences my expectations were very low, but… it turned out great! The sailing was very smooth with hardly any waves, we had a great dinner at the restaurant followed by a charming sunset. All that just to wake up to a calm blue skies on blue water seascape upon arrival. What else could I wish for?
DAY 5 – GDANSK TO WARSAW
We parted our ways with Piotr in Gdańsk, as I have decided to spend another day at the Polish seaside. I met some friends and enjoyed a great local cuisine. The weather was much warmer than in Scandinavia but hey – it is summer after all!
The following morning hit off the last day of my trip. Swedish roads set the bar very high and I was a bit sceptical about the country roads of my motherland. I was right… but thankfully only for the first fifty kilometres or so. Firstly, I headed towards Malbork to see the gothic castle (the largest in the world by area) and then drove to Iława, where I planned my lunch break.
It was the very last stint that I likely enjoyed the most, really pushing the term “side roads” to a different level. I passed Mława and ensured myself that Polish countryside is unique and hardly comparable with any other landscapes. The quietness of the surroundings filled by the sounds of the bees and clatter of storks served a meditation session I was not expecting. I parked by the roadside and admired the sunset to the music of a tiny brook. Where? This you need to search for on your own!
IT IS ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY
I have eventually arrived in Warsaw and then, a few days later joined the annual Forza Italia meeting at the Rozalin Palace. It was great to meet some friends I have not seen in a while, enjoy some great Italian cuisine and engage in lively loudened with time by countless glasses of Prosecco.
Whilst being at the destination felt great, this trip was really all about the journey. It turned out exactly how I imagined it to be in the sense of a gran turismo feeling. I enjoyed every kilometre, every curve and every single corner. It was just me, the car, the landscapes and my thoughts. The non-functional radio in my Alfa left the latter undisturbed and the engine sound hummed along to my contemplation. Engine? Car? Right… I have not said much about them but this time, it was all about the road trip catharsis.
Thanks to Piotr from Fotopatologia for hosting me in Stockholm and showing me around!
Text & Photos: Adam Pekala ©
