Long known as “Motor Valley,” Modena is part of that territory where the great Italian automobile factories were founded and became famous the world over. Here, it is said, “passion races.” The legendary heroes of speed were born here, and their names still set the hearts of automobile buffs afire.
If you’re ready to enter Motor Valley, this trip will introduce you to the places, the personalities, and the automobiles that have become legends!
We begin with Maserati, one of the most fascinating automobile manufacturers in the world and the producer of elegant, Italian-made autos of immense style and luxury.
If you’d like to spend more time getting to know the cars that bear the famous Maserati Trident logo, a factory tour is another option. For this tour of the heart of the company’s production floor, reservations are also required.
When you’ve completed your visit to Maserati, continue on foot to the nearby Enzo Ferrari Museum.
In a futuristic pavilion of more than 2,500m2, a masterpiece of the brilliant architect, Jan Kaplicky, makes and models are on display that recount the magical story of Enzo Ferrari’s ninety years of life. Alongside this pavilion is the historic factory of Enzo’s father, now perfectly restored and home to the Ferrari Automobile Museum.
When you’ve finished your visit, Modena’s historic old town is only a short walk away.
Before lunch, you can take in the undisputed beauty of the complex designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997: Piazza Grande, Modena Cathedral, and the Ghirlandina Tower.
After lunch, the adventure continues with a very brief walk from the old town to visit another site meant for car aficionados: the Stanguellini Museum of Vintage Autos.
In the fascinating Stanguellini Museum founded in 1996 by Francesco, Vittorio's son, visitors can survey the automobile vicissitudes of this family of historic manufacturers, admiring their finest cars, motorcycles, accessories, photographs, reviews and the advertising material of the epoch.
In a beautiful countryside setting, the Umberto Panini Collection is located inside the Hombre Dairy Farm, owned by the Panini family.
This unique collection includes Panini’s cars, motorcycles, and military vehicles in addition to an interesting group of antique bicycles. In particular, though, the Umberto Panini Collection houses the most phenomenal models ever to bear the Maserati Trident.
The itinerary continues with a side trip to Maranello and to the heart of the Ferrari legend.
What awaits you here is a place that has become legendary—the Ferrari Museum—and a chance to immerse yourself in the extraordinary history of the “Prancing Horse,” Ferrari’s nickname and logo.
The most famous Formula 1 racing cars are on display here, as are legendary sports cars, the automobiles of the Gran Turismo series, and street cars.
Let's move now to San Cesario sul Panaro, the headquarters of another firm that has made automobile history.
Pagani is the manufacturer of such prestigious Italian supercars as the Zonda and Huayra, and the firm will be delighted to welcome you into its museum and factory.
The philosophy driving the company embraces a concept borrowed from the Renaissance and embodied by the great Leonardo da Vinci who, over 500 years ago, once stated: “Art and Science are disciplines that must walk together hand in hand.”
Just twenty minutes from San Cesario is Lamborghini, the producer of luxury sports supercars in Sant'Agata Bolognese.
At Lamborghini, you can visit MUDETEC (the Museum of Technologies), where cars of various makes are on display and a driving simulator offers visitors an interactive experience. On the production floor, witness live the birth of these incredible cars.
