Tour To the Ferrari Museum

Casa Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena

Modena is home to the Casa Museo Enzo Ferrari, a museum dedicated to the life and legacy of Enzo Ferrari, the man behind one of the world’s most iconic automotive brands. Located less than ten minutes’ walk from Modena train station, the museum stands on the site of Enzo Ferrari’s father’s former workshop.

The complex combines the restored historic house with a striking modern exhibition hall designed to evoke the yellow bonnet of a Ferrari car. Inside, visitors can explore early vehicles designed, built, and raced by Enzo Ferrari, including the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, the first car he produced before using his own name, built for the 1940 Mille Miglia.

The museum also places Ferrari within the wider context of Modena’s automotive culture, featuring Maserati and De Tomaso models and highlighting how Enzo Ferrari influenced other manufacturers in the region. This broader perspective reflects the spirit of Italy’s Motor Valley, where engineering, design, and craftsmanship evolved side by side.

Panini Collection: Automotive Heritage and Parmigiano Reggiano

The Panini Collection offers one of the most distinctive automotive museum experiences in Emilia-Romagna. Created by Umberto Panini — former Maserati engineer and founder of the famous Panini sticker empire — the collection is housed on the Hombre organic Parmigiano Reggiano farm just outside Modena.

Visitors can admire an eclectic range of mechanical masterpieces, from early Lamborghini and Maserati tractors to rare Maserati prototypes, military motorcycles, Lambretta scooters, bicycles, and even vintage petrol pumps. The visit often combines naturally with a stop at the dairy, making it a unique blend of food and automotive heritage.

This combination of craftsmanship across disciplines mirrors the themes explored in Supercars and Super Foods of Modena, where engineering excellence and gastronomic tradition share the same cultural roots.

Galleria Ferrari and Maranello

Maranello, located around 20 kilometres from Modena, has been home to the Ferrari factory since the 1960s. While access to the production lines is reserved for Ferrari owners, the town remains an essential stop for enthusiasts visiting the region.

The Galleria Ferrari is the official Ferrari museum and features an extensive collection of Formula One cars alongside legendary road models such as the F40. Visitors can also join a guided shuttle tour that passes through the factory grounds, offering insight into Ferrari’s history and operations without entering the production areas.

Supercar Driving Experiences: Context and Expectations

While Modena and Maranello are often associated with supercar driving experiences, these activities are best understood as short, highly controlled experiences rather than full driving adventures. Most visitors choose to focus on museums and cultural sites, using driving experiences as a brief complement rather than the main purpose of their visit.

For a realistic overview of how these experiences work, including age requirements and track versus road options, see our guide on driving supercars in Italy.

Planning a Balanced Motor Valley Visit

If you are spending only a short time in Modena, it is possible to combine two or three museums into a single day, often linking Modena with Maranello and the Panini Collection. Short itineraries such as what to do in Modena in three hours help place these visits within a broader cultural and culinary context.

Seen as a whole, these museums form part of a much wider story. To understand how Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, Maserati, and Ducati fit into the region’s identity, we recommend exploring our comprehensive guide to Italy’s Motor Valley in Emilia-Romagna.