Words: Nathan Chadwick
Photography: The Museums / Nathan Chadwick
Alfa Romeo Museum
Where: Milan, Italy
Discover the fascinating story of Alfa Romeo through a narrative that spans more than a century. This enormous collection brings iconic road cars and racing heroes to the fore. There’s also a chance to get up close to concept cars that shaped the future of automotive design.
The museum hosts special events and themed exhibitions throughout the year, and guided tours of the basement collection, with even more treasures, are also available.
National Automobile Museum (Mauto)
Where: Turin, Italy
Located in the heart of the Italian motoring industry, Turin, this wide-ranging museum tells the story of the car from its very beginning right up the modern day. However, more than just cars, it tells the wider social and technological stories behind modern mobility. You can also dive into the story of Turin’s automotive heritage, and discover insights from the legends of automotive design.
There are themed exhibits and events throughout the year, so plenty of reasons to return each year.
FCA Heritage Hub
Where: Turin, Italy
If you’ve a love for Lancia, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Abarth, then you’ll love this huge 300+ collection of historic motorsport stars and concept cars. It’s located in the historic Mirafiori plant, which is still home to the Italian car world’s design hub. Guided tours are available.
Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari
Where: Modena, Italy
Dedicated to company founder Enzo Ferrari, this two-part museum firstly tells the story of Il Commentadore in his former home in the centre of Modena. It contains a reproduction of his original office – but there’s also much more in the main exhibition hall. Here you can see ever-changing themed exhibits that show off the grand history of the marque, often with rarely seen one-offs. You can also get a bus ticket to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from here.
Ferrari Museum
Where: Maranello
Located just 300 metres from Ferrari’s HQ, the Museo Ferrari is a treasure trove of historic road cars, Formula 1 machines and concept cars from throughout its history.
There are themed exhibits each year, and discounts and transport is available if bought in addition to the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari ticket.
Maserati Headquarters
Where: Modena, Italy
Just a short walk from the Casa Enzo Ferrari, you can visit the global headquarters of Maserati. There is a small display area with rotating themed exhibitions, and there’s also the chance to book a guided tour of this historic factory to see the latest creations.
Collection Umberto Panini
Where: Modena, Italy
In the mid-1990s, former Maserati worker and local agriculture magnate – and former founder of the Panini sticker empire – stepped in to save Maserati’s historic collection for the nation. Today his sons carry on his work, and in 2025 the collection moves to a new location at the Autodromo di Modena, with new exhibits planned.
Ferrucio Lamborghini Museum
Where: Bologna, Italy
This collection tells the story of Ferruccio Lamborghini from his manufacturing beginnings, through to his tractor empire and on to his eponymous supercar company. This wide-ranging collection brings out rarities from the personal Lamborghini family collection.
It also features a reconstruction of Ferruccio’s first office at the Lamborghini Tractors company, as well as a helicopter prototype and the Class 1 Fast 45 Diablo offshore boat.
Pagani Museum
Where: San Cesario su Panaro, near Modena.
Follow Horacio Pagani’s story as he began his car design career in his native Argentina before heading to Italy to work for Lamborghini. Then follow his path as he struck out on his own, forming Pagani Automobili empire. A fascinating display of not only the cars, but also the tools that helped forge the legend.
Lamborghini Museum
Where: Sant’Agata Bolognese, near Modena
The official Lamborghini museum tells the story of the famous firm, from its origins with 350GT, right up to the modern day. You’ll get to see very early production versions of the Countach, plus prototypes and one-offs from more recent times.
Stanguellini Museum
Where: Modena, Italy
Located in the very workshops Vittorio Stanguellini worked on his famous racing cars, this collection charts the story of the business from its pre-car era through to its innovative days at the forefront of motorsport success, plus his foray into road cars.
Have you visited any of these museums? We would love to hear your recommendations in the comments below.
