Despite being the capital of the country which has produced more beautiful, desirable cars than any other, Rome has not hosted a concours d’elegance since 1960. The Anantara Concorso Roma planned to change that last year, but it was cancelled at short notice as the Eternal City mourned the passing of Pope Francis. But a year’s delay will make the inaugural event even bigger and better than was originally planned. It finally takes place on April 18 and 19, and Robb Report was given an exclusive preview of the new event and its venues. Fittingly, the new concours will only feature Italian cars, with 68 on display in the gardens of the Villa Borghese, one of Rome’s most beautiful green spaces with views across the city. Restricting the entrants to domestic models doesn’t limit the quality or variety, given that they’re Italian. The concours’ 11 classes run from Zagato-bodied Alfas from the 1920s to the Ferrari 499P—the latter winning Le Mans three..
