Event and context

Date: 16 May 2026

The 60th anniversary of ASI was observed with a day of events held on both shores of Lake Garda, taking place at sites of notable historical and cultural value. The programme connected the association’s history with the area’s architectural and museum heritage.

Bardolino: commemoration and exhibition

In Bardolino (VR), the town centre and harbour hosted vintage cars and motorcycles alongside historic boats. Key activities included:

• opening of a modelling exhibition at Palazzo Gelmetti, featuring handcrafted works;
• unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking ASI’s foundation, attended by local officials;
• a lecture on the evolution of automotive style at the Teatro Corallo, delivered by a specialist.

The events reinforced Bardolino’s role as both a physical and symbolic starting point for the ASI anniversary celebrations.

Vittoriale degli Italiani: exhibition and performance

At the Vittoriale degli Italiani in Gardone Riviera (BS), Gabriele d’Annunzio’s house-museum hosted displays of vehicles and vessels from the 1920s–30s alongside an art exhibition exploring speed and avant-garde themes.

• art show entitled “Futurism and the myth of speed”;
• exhibition of historic cars, motorcycles and boats;
• theatrical piece “Inclinata progreditur. Dialogue with a car”, linking art history and motoring culture.

The Vittoriale setting created a productive conversation between monumental heritage and issues of modernity, speed and design.

Why attend

This commemorative day offers visitors a combination of monuments, motor-history exhibits and cultural programming, highlighting how historic sites can host events that celebrate both technical and artistic legacies.