Mugello Circuit – Florence, Italy

The stunningly quaint and picturesque hills of Tuscany temporarily transform for one weekend each year, as the Mugello circuit plays host to one of the most magnificent races of the season – the Gran Premio d’Italia.

Hiding up high in the countryside and renowned for its breathtaking Italian architecture, the small town of Scarperia e San Piero is found north of Rome and just a short drive away from the city of Florence, regarded by many as the birthplace of the renaissance.

Hosting MotoGP every year since 1991, the Italian edition has become a firm favourite for many, who savour the opportunity to soak up some summer sun alongside some of the finest cuisine the world has on offer.

What really sets the Italian Grand Prix apart is the atmosphere. You’ll. struggle to find anything quite like it. The race weekend energy is utter madness, but this craziness is part of what makes it so fantastic.

“I like Mugello a lot. It’s one of my favourite tracks on the MotoGP calendar. It’s a circuit that has a bit of everything.”

Maverick Vinales, Spanish Moto3 World Champion

For years, the legendary Valentino Rossi would roar to victory on home turf in front of legions of yellow-clad motorbike fanatics. Nowadays, Francesco Bagnaia holds the reins (or should we say handlebars), and the Italians will be keen to keep to winning ways in their own backyard.

Mugello circuit beautifully intertwines death-defying high speed corners with huge straights and intense braking zones, really demanding everything out of the riders and their machines.

As Ferrari’s very own test track, this is a must – it’s literally designed to push the vehicles to the very edge.

 In regards to spectating at the track, there are various grandstand options, some of which are better than others. There’s the general admission area too, which offers some very good vantage points without having to break the bank quite as much.

Toilets are located all around the venue, but Mugello chaos means they usually end up in a pretty bad state as the weekend goes on – be prepared for this.

Food and drink at the circuit is available in the usual form of pizzerias and burger vans etc, but expect to pay higher than normal prices. Take your own if you want to save some money. 

Of course, outside the circuit, there’s the fresh and delicious cuisine that ‘bel paese’ is known for, which you’ll find across restaurants, bars and gelatarias dotted all around the nearby towns.

Due to the massive influx of people over race weekend, walking around is usually quicker than public transport.

Many fans choose to camp inside the circuit in either tents or camper vans, which we definitely recommend if you don’t mind sacrificing a few luxuries to save a whole load of fuss.

You pay for the atmosphere when buying a ticket for the Italian MotoGP, and while there are a few organisation issues that could slightly hinder your experience, you won’t leave disappointed.

The sights and sounds you will encounter are truly second to none.

Viewing options at Mugello

Grandstand Centrale 

Located on the main straight, Grandstand Centrale is essentially the ‘main grandstand’ at Mugello circuit. With its excellent view of the start/finish line, a peek into the riders garages and its incredible atmosphere, Centrale is one of the more expensive options at the track.

A ticket for this grandstand will save you lots of hassle and worry, as you’re right in the thick of things so pretty much guaranteed to be satisfied. Your seats will be reserved, so there’s no reason to stress about fighting for the best possible spot like the fans in general admission will be doing.

There’s plenty of food and drink stalls nearby and a number of big screens visible so you can keep up with the race throughout its duration. There are toilets just a stone’s throw away and drinking water stations dotted around the vicinity too.

Note that this grandstand is divided into numerous different sections, each one at a different price point and offering a slightly unique perspective. The cheapest ‘Bronze’ and Bronze 2 options are by no means a bad choice, and the quality of the vantage points they offer are well above what you’d find at most other events in the calendar. They are located at the bottom of the grandstand, closer to the track, so you’ll really feel the power of the engines as the bikes roar by.

The sections then climb in price from Silver, to Gold and then Platinum options, which generally just offer slight improvements in view thanks to them being a bit higher up, with a few other added benefits such as better big screen access, and comfier seating.

The Silver Biondetti is an additional part of Grandstand Centrale, which also faces the opposite direction. Definitely one to be considered, it occupies the upper half of the grandstand and gives you visual access over a huge portion of track. It is covered, offers reserved seating, and provides you with a spectacular overview of the circuit’s northern turns. 

The vibes in the main grandstand are always immaculate, and everyone loves being surrounded by so many people who all share the same passion.

All the centrale grandstands are covered, so you’ll be protected from the extremely intense Italian sunshine. Don’t take this for granted, as it really does get ridiculously hot at Mugello most years.

Grandstand Centrale is the best overall choice at the Mugello Circuit. It gives you breathtaking views of the track, while also including the start / finish and podium celebrations. You won’t find a much better all round MotoGP experience.

Take earplugs because the noise is – quite literally – deafening.

Poggio Secco

As one of the cheapest grandstands at the circuit, Poggio Secco is a magnificent value choice for those who want to skip the craziness of general admission and guarantee themselves a particular spot, without breaking the bank.

You’ll get some superb views over the early stages of the lap, particularly turns 2 though to turn 7, and a more distant view of the main straight and several bends as the bikes race towards the Ducati stand. It’s a great place to be at the start of the race.

Being one of the furthest seating areas from the podium, you’re in the worst possible location for the post race track invasion if you select a seat here. Atmosphere is still bustling, but if storming the track during the celebrations is an important part of your race weekend, you’ll be best avoiding Poggio.

The food at Mugello is held in high regard, and there are multiple food and drinks vendors around the grandstand along with toilets and drinking water stations just behind.

A big screen right in front of you lets you follow the riders non-stop, but bring some binoculars to ensure you don’t miss any finer details. It’s an uncovered stand, so remember your holiday essentials if you’re worried about the searing midday sun.

Poggio Secco is one of the most popular choices for fans at the Italian GP, so secure your ticket as soon as possible if you want some exceptional value for money.

Materassi 

Another grandstand at the cheaper end of the spectrum, the Materassi grandstand offers a view not massively different to that of Poggio Secco.

You’ll have a very good view of a big screen here, which is always a bonus. Being close to the track too, the rush you feel as the riders pass is exhilarating to say the least.

It’s overlooking a section of the track where the riders weave in, skimming the tarmac before slingshotting out the other side. The breathtaking backdrop will make for some scenic footage to show off to your mates when you get back home.

Materassi is split into a few different sections – Materassi Laterale to the right hand side isn’t quite as exciting, and doesn’t offer a clear view of the big screen either. The little bit of Materassi that is furthest left is the best choice, as you are closest to the track, the bikes and the big screen, and you see the riders for a longer period of time. All are uncovered though, so drink plenty of water throughout the day and wear your sunscreen.

Toilets, food and drink vendors and water stations are all within reach in this grandstand, but as with Poggio, you’re a little further away from the very heart of the action around the main straight and central grandstands. Despite this, an electric atmosphere is still a guarantee, and as long as you aren’t too bothered about seeing the start and finish of the race, Materassi should definitely be considered.

Grandstand 58 “

Perched on the platform that looks over the second of the two iconic arrabiata turns, Grandstand 58” gives you a view of what is perhaps one of the most exciting and challenging bits of track in MotoGP as a whole.

Dedicated to the late Italian motorcycle racer Marco Simoncelli, the grandstand takes his now retired bike number.

Valentino Rossi himself even crashed at this exact part of the race in 2019! 

As one of the more expensive grandstands at the circuit, you will have to dig a little deeper in your pockets if you’re after a seat here, but you won’t be disappointed. The view is not only iconic, but quite simply beautiful, and it’s a real once in a lifetime experience to see your favourite motorbike racers take this sequence of corners flat out.

Not only will you get a view of the two arrabiata bends, but also of the bucine corners, the straights that follow, and the subsequent turns further in the distance.

There are MotoGP merchandise spots nearby, along with a couple of food outlets and drinking water stations too. There’s videowall access just in front of you, so you don’t need to worry about missing the other parts of the race.

You are a fair distance from the main straight here though, but there’s still hoards of fans in the vicinity ensuring atmosphere is through the roof.

Grandstand 58 gives you one of the most uniquely special views at Mugello circuit and covers an expansive area, so if you’re willing to spend that little bit more, it should be high up on your list.

Ducati

Covering the U-shaped bend towards the end of the lap, the Ducati stands puts you up close and personal with the riders as they get down to the nitty gritty end of the race.

A popular choice due to the vast number of Ducati fans in Italy, A ticket here gives you the added bonus of having some free gear thrown in – fans tend to receive a hat and t-shirt on the Sunday, so they can rep the team’s own colours.

Ducati is located towards the end of the lap and not too far from the main straight, so as you can imagine the atmosphere is electric throughout.

It’s not the cheapest grandstand, but not the most expensive either. The toilets are a little bit further way, so you might have to walk longer than you’d like.

There are food and drink outlets nearby. The view of the big screen isn’t fantastic, so be aware of this. The view is good, but not as widespread as with some other seating options, and I would suggest exploring other options before committing to a seat here (unless you’re a die-hard Ducati fan of course).

General Admission

As with any racing circuit, the general admission zone is for the fans who aren’t too bothered about having a particular spot reserved in a grandstand, and like the freedom to be able to freely roam around a large area and figure out where they’d prefer to spectate.

They get to do all this while saving a fair bit of money in most cases too, and it’s no different at the Italian Grand Prix. General Admission is the best choice if you want complete freedom.

Mugello offers some brilliant views for those who go for this option over race weekend.

General Admission areas cover more or less the whole circuit, so if there was a particular corner you had in mind before the race, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of it. 

Despite being the cheapest option at Mugello, you won’t be left feeling like you’re missing out on anything, as it’s the most popular way to watch. There’ll be thousands and thousands of other, like-minded motorsport fans, so spirits will be high. Beware of this too though – all of you will be fighting for best spots to spectate from, so make sure you get down to the track as early as possible on race day to have the best possible chance of a good spot.

Most GA areas are very decent, but the bit by Curvone (turn 8) lets you see an excellent portion of track. It has a video wall in close proximity to allow you to keep up with all the action, and there are toilets and food stalls nearby too with free drinking water on site.

If you end up going for the general admission option, your best bet is to spend a few hours at the start of the weekend familiarising yourself with the circuit, and making up your own mind when deciding where to watch. Some fans prefer watching the high speed straights, while others like to see the riders fight gravity when tackling some of the ferocious bends. 

Be prepared for lots of walking around, and pack accordingly. It’s usually extremely hot over race weekend and there’s little cover available at the track, so stay hydrated and have your sun hats and sunscreen at the ready.

If the odds are in your favour, you might snag a position near the podium, ready for the post-race track invasion!