The town of Pescara, on the Adriatic coast of Italy, is famous for many things. It is a holiday resort for the Italians, it is the point on the Mille Miglia route where the race turns inland over the Abruzzi mountains, it is the last outpost of civilisation when venturing down into Calabria by road, it is invariably very hot, but above all it has a wonderful motor racing history.

The 25-kilometre circuit, one of the longest used for grand prix racing, lies on the edge of the town and goes up into the mountains, through the villages of Montani and Spoltore and down again through Cappelle, to join a long, fast straight that runs at right-angles to the Adriatic until it meets the Via Adriatica at the village of Montesilvano, and then it runs south down the coast road back to Pescara.

The entire circuit is comprised of normal, everyday Italian roads, it runs slap through the centre of villages, and contains every known hazard of normal motoring, such as kerbstones, bridges, hairpins, rough surfaces and every type of bend and corner imaginable. Out in the country section, the road is bordered by fields, trees, high banks, hedges, sheer drops and solid concrete walls; in fact, the whole thing is pure unadulterated road racing.