Mario and his twin brother Aldo were born in Montona, Italy in 1940. Imagine Montona: a sleepy, medieval town set atop a cone-shaped hill in the Italian countryside. To get to the highest point, you need to climb 1,052 steps, the longest stairway in the world. And from the summit, the view of the Quieto river valley with its picturesque vineyards and fertile fields is absolutely breathtaking. In the surrounding forests, residents gather world-renowned truffles using specially trained dogs. Within Montona itself, children play freely, peacefully and happily on pristine cobblestone streets, amid ancient churches and the famous bell tower constructed in the 13th century.
That was Montona as the Andretti family knew it. But World War II broke out around the time Mario and Aldo were born and when it ended in 1945 the town was forever changed. Montona, located on the Istrian peninsula, was ceded to Yugoslavia as part of the post-war political settlement and the town they loved fell under Communist rule. The family stuck it out for three years hoping that the only world they had ever known would right itself. But when things hadn't changed by 1948, the family of five decided to leave Montona knowing their lives would never amount to anything under Communist doctrine. Their first stop was a central dispersement camp in Udine. About a week later, they were transferred to a refugee camp in Lucca.
Today the town of Montona is part of Croatia and is called Motovun.
https://www.marioandretti.com/montona
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-mario-andretti-one-of-the-fastest-americans-ever-discovered-his-speed-1533047673
That was Montona as the Andretti family knew it. But World War II broke out around the time Mario and Aldo were born and when it ended in 1945 the town was forever changed. Montona, located on the Istrian peninsula, was ceded to Yugoslavia as part of the post-war political settlement and the town they loved fell under Communist rule. The family stuck it out for three years hoping that the only world they had ever known would right itself. But when things hadn't changed by 1948, the family of five decided to leave Montona knowing their lives would never amount to anything under Communist doctrine. Their first stop was a central dispersement camp in Udine. About a week later, they were transferred to a refugee camp in Lucca.
Today the town of Montona is part of Croatia and is called Motovun.
https://www.marioandretti.com/montona
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-mario-andretti-one-of-the-fastest-americans-ever-discovered-his-speed-1533047673
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