Filippo Salvioni

Filippo Salvioni is the founder of Guide to Italy. He writes on alpine culture and the Italian communities that live beyond the reach of established tourist routes. His interest is in the reasons a village is still there, not the view from it.

The maglia rosa: why the Giro d'Italia dresses its leader in pink

The pink jersey of the Giro d'Italia descends not from design but from the pink paper of a Milan newspaper. The improbable history of cycling's most recognizable jersey, the men who made it, and the meaning that has gathered around it.

By Filippo Salvioni

/ 31 May 2026

Rear view of a rider in the maglia rosa with a buttoned back pocket, riding through open countryside

Passo Gavia 1988: the white hell of Giro d'Italia stage 14 and how it became cycling's most legendary day

Snow fell in June, champions wept, and a single Alpine pass, the Passo Gavia, rewrote cycling history forever. This is the story of the 1988 Giro d'Italia's Stage 14: the most brutal, beautiful, and unforgettable day the Corsa Rosa has ever seen.

By Filippo Salvioni

/ 23 May 2026

Vintage gouache painting of a cyclist riding up a snowy mountain dirt road during a severe Gavia Pass cycling ascent.

Giro d'Italia history: a century of passion, mythical climbs, and the soul of the maglia rosa

Uncover the epic history of the Giro d'Italia and the legendary maglia rosa: a deep dive into Italian cycling culture, dramatic mountain passes, and authentic local traditions. Discover the soul of the pink race to inspire your ultimate journey to Italy.

By Filippo Salvioni

/ 5 May 2026

Black and white historical photo of the 1961 Giro d'Italia peloton riding along the picturesque Ionian coast of Capo Rizzuto in Calabria.