By 
Continuing on my journey from the Lamborghini Museum to my next customer took me through the well-known city of Bologna. The difference here is that life almost seemed to revolve around Ferrari. There were shops and cafes plastered in the prancing horse and that well-known Ferrari red. Driving just outside the city, found my next automotive paradise: the Museo Ferrari Maranello.
Now, before I go too far, you have to know that there are two Ferrari Museums, the one I visited in Maranello and the Museo Enzo Ferrari Modena. While there are only 21 kilometers (13 miles) between the two, the story each museum tells is much different. To get the best comprehensive experience, I would recommend doing both while you’re in the area.
The Museo Enzo Ferrari Modena is dedicated to the legend himself, Enzo Ferrari. Here, you can find and explore his father’s workshop and the house in which Enzo was born. Some Ferrari fans equate this to entering a cathedral of sorts – I have even seen it compared to making a pilgrimage to Mecca for those die-hard prancing horse enthusiasts. You will find Enzo’s life story and get a feeling for the passion that led Ferrari to become one of the legends.
I want to build a car that’s faster than all of them, and then I want to die
– Enzo Ferrari
While I found the Modena museum to be a story of life and passion, the Museo Ferrari Maranello is one that revolves around one thing: the machine. The exhibits are set up beautifully and provide that feeling of full-emersion within the prancing-horse brand. From the Ferarri 156 MM to the FXX-K Evo and all of the Formula One models throughout the years, the museum offered it all.
During my visit they were running an exhibit dedicated to the 50th birthday of Formula One legend himself – Michael Schumacher. The entire exhibit was brilliantly executed and leaves you in awe at the amount of hard work and dedication that each and every individual has put in to make the brand such a success in motorsports.
Aerodynamics are for people who can’t build engines
– Enzo Ferrari
While you cannot touch or sit inside any of the displays, there is a simulator at the end of the self-guided tour in which you can drive various tracks in their training simulators for around 25€ or so. If that is not enough immersion, there are places in the area in which you can rent Ferraris at the cost of around 100€ per 10 minutes.
From the Maranello location, you can also book a shuttle bus tour of the Fiorano track and the Viale Enzo Ferrari boulevard within the factory complex. Sadly, you must remain on the bus throughout the tour and no photography, nor videography is allowed.
Overall, I would say this is one of my favorite automotive museums to date. My only regret? Not bringing my good camera on this trip. I did not expect to have any time to visit anything related to automotive, so I packed light and just brought the trusty phone, which does not capture that stunning Ferrari red at all (insert “shame” meme here). Oh well, it just gives me a reason to have to go back.
I build engines and attach wheels to them
– Enzo Ferrari
Now… Which manufacturer should I visit next?
