Moto & Macchine 2025
In 1994, one Swedish motoring magazine published a little announcement. It invited owners of Italian motorcycles and cars to gather at Skokloster Castle for a special event. What made this announcement stand out were two details. First, it included something we rarely see nowadays: detailed driving directions from various parts of the region. Why not just use GPS, you ask? Well, remember that we are taking about early ’90s.
The second interesting detail was tucked into one of the final lines of the announcement: “We hope this will become a tradition for all Italian bikes and cars.” Over three decades later, that wish turned out to be remarkably prophetic. Neither the location nor the date has changed. Every year on May 1st, fans of Italian motoring still gather at Skokloster Castle to admire stunning vehicles and connect with fellow enthusiasts — keeping the spirit of that first meeting very much alive.
The event’s schedule couldn’t be simpler: arrive, kick some tires, and head home. It might not sound all that exciting on paper, but there is more to it! It’s not just the picturesque castle towering above the gathering that gives it a special atmosphere — it’s also the people. Picnic blankets and folding chairs spill out of many trunks, and between rows of parked Alfa Romeos and Fiats, you’ll find all kinds of casual picnics.
Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t always play along. When I visited the event two years ago, freezing rain was falling — a sure way to send chilled visitors packing early. This year, though, things were much more pleasant: temperatures climbed above 10°C, and there was barely a drop of rain. Hooray!
History, castle and picnics – that’s all nice, but let’s finally talk some cars! It’s hard to know where to start, but how about with what’s often called the worst Alfa Romeo ever made? The Arna. A truly odd creature — it combined uninspired Japanese design with notoriously unreliable Italian engineering. A match made in... well, definitely not heaven. To make matters worse, the body panels were made from steel that was said to arrive at the factory already rusting. Unsurprisingly, the car didn’t win many hearts (or wallets), and most of the few that were sold didn’t last long. Today, spotting an Arna is about as rare as seeing a unicorn — that’s why I was so happy to see this car live during the Moto & Macchine.
But let’s move on to some more successful models. The sight of classic Alfas from the 1970s never fails to please my eye. Those light, elegant lines! So refreshingly different from today’s bulky, bunker-like cars. Equally charming was the row of tiny, rear-engined Fiats parked nicely with some red little houses in the background. Together they created some idyllic view reminding of the simpler times when being in constant hurry wasn’t our daily routine.
Off to the side, a bit tucked away and easy to miss, were some real gems — like a 1987 Lamborghini Countach LP 5000QV and a white 1975 De Tomaso Pantera GTS. It was in this quieter corner of the event that I also had a small revelation: a modern Ferrari can actually look really good. Surprise! The dark green Ferrari 12Cilindri really cached my eye.
Here comes a sentence I find myself writing often: it’s simply impossible to list all the interesting cars. So, I invite you to take a closer look at the photos and discover the models that make your hearts beat faster.
The time spent at the event was thoroughly enjoyable, but the good vibes didn’t end when I left the castle grounds. Normally, I’m used to Swedish roads being filled with the most uninspiring cars of the past two decades — but not on this day! The scenic road winding through fields and hills came alive with a parade of vehicles heading home from the gathering. In front of me: a Lamborghini and a Ferrari and a few Alfa Romeos, along with a few silhouettes in the distance I couldn’t even identify. And in the rearview mirror? An Aventador, a Fiat 124, and a classic Giulia. I have no complaints about driving in such traffic.
