Famous for its barrel-aged balsamic vinegar and cheese, the Italian city of Modena is the stuff of dreams if you ever fancied the cherry-red Ferrari. There are not one, but two Ferrari museums in and around this Italian city, birthplace of automobile manufacturer and designer Enzo Ferrari, and founder of the marque brand.
The museum in Maranello (home to the Ferrari factory), a few kilometres from Modena, is a car lover’s haven. It was envisioned by Enzo, who died a year-and-a-half before the museum opened to public in 1990. From the 1952 500 F2, which gave the carmaker its first world drivers’ title, to Michael Schumacher’s favourite F2004, it houses all of the Prancing Horses—the iconic logo of the car was originally a personal emblem of Count Francesco Baracca, a legendary Italian air force pilot during World War I. One of the centrepieces is an exhibition dedicated to Schumacher and his 11 years of association with Ferrari. Also on display is the ‘Ant Eater’, considered an iconic piece of industrial design; only 36 models were made between 1962 and 1964.
Enzo’s office with an image of the Prancing Horse mounted on one wall has been recreated for visitors. The space is a reminder of the stark and disciplined persona of the brand’s creator—known famously as L’Ingegnere (the Engineer) or Il Grande Vecchio (the Grand Old Man)—who was once denied a job by Fiat.
If you are looking at g
etting a taste of what it feels like behind the wheel of a Ferrari, this museum gives you a chance to experience it. It has a test-drive spot with gleaming cars available on rent for a drive.
The museum in Modena, which was once the former workshop and home to Enzo’s father Alfredo, is a tribute to the Ferrari maker. Established in March 2012, the goal was to craft a space devoted to the elevation and retrieval of the history of Modena’s motoring.
The museum has two parts: the old part with Enzo’s first office, and a futuristic-looking arena with cars such as the bright red Monza SP1on elevated platforms. Every car has a sign on the dais defining the model, year it was made and how many were manufactured.
For instance, the F40 model built between 1987 and 1992 had a singular production plan of only 400, but ultimately more than double the number was manufactured owing to pre-production orders. Designed to celebrate Ferrari’s 40th birthday, it was the last vehicle directly sanctioned by Enzo.