If you love cars and are planning a trip to Italy, you should visit one of the many car museums in the country. Italy is known for producing some of the finest automobiles in the world, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Alfa Romeo. These museums showcase a variety of car models from the past to the present and offer exciting insights into each model’s history and the life stories of car founders. Not only will your visit be memorable, but you will also see valuable and significant pieces of automobile history. Car enthusiasts worldwide attend car shows held in various Italian cities, so you will take advantage of the opportunity to see these amazing car museums.
Here are the 13 best car museums in Italy that you can visit.
Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile — Turin, Italy
Located in Turin, Italy, the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile (National Automobile Museum) is a significant museum worth visiting. Founded by Carlo Bescaratti de Ruffia, this museum features various car brands and models, providing the historical background of each automobile on display. With over 30 showrooms, the museum showcases more than 200 cars developed throughout the history of automobiles. The collection includes almost 80 cars representing eight countries: Italy, France, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United States. The museum offers a thrilling journey through the evolution of cars from their early stages to modern times. If you’re in Turin, this museum is a must-visit destination.
Museo Pininfarina — Cambiano, Turin, Italy
Located in the commune of Cambiano within the Metropolitan City of Turin, the Pininfarina Museum is a small yet captivating museum that showcases iconic designs, particularly from renowned Italian car manufacturers such as Ferrari and Alfa Romeo. Additionally, the museum also features exhibits from Peugeot and Mitsubishi, including the Mitsubishi Pajero which was built by the Pininfarina car design firm in 1996. With 50 collections on display, visitors can enjoy the exciting experience of being in close proximity to cars that have made automobile history. Souvenir items such as pens, shirts, and suitcases are available for purchase. However, it is important to note that reservations are mandatory and require a minimum of 5 people per group.
Museo Horacio Pagani — San Cesario sul Panaro, Italy
Discover the Horacio Pagani Museum in San Cesario sul Panaro, Italy, where you can experience a unique combination of a museum, design studio, and factory all in one place. Horacio Pagani, a successful Italian-Argentine businessman, and engineer, created this exceptional destination. The museum boasts an impressive collection of classic, modern, limited edition, and race cars, including the latest Zonda and Huayra models. Visitors can witness the car assembly process and admire the early clay models of the Huayra. In addition, guests can explore Horacio Pagani’s personal collection of supercars. The museum is conveniently located 25 km northwest of Bologna and 12 km southeast of Modena.
Museo Nicolis — Villafranca di Verona, Italy
Located in Villafranca di Verona, northeastern Italy, the Nicolis Museum is a showcase of various car brands, highlighting their cultural and historical contributions. Founded in 1934 by Francesco Nicolis, along with his son Luciano and daughter Sylvia, the museum boasts hundreds of cars, motorbikes, bicycles, cameras, typewriters, and various F1 steering wheels. Visitors can observe how car models have evolved over time, and one of the most notable cars in the collection is the 1929 Issota Fraschini, which was used in the movie Sunset Boulevard. Overall, the Nicolis Museum is a tribute to the innovation and progress of the automobile industry.
Mille Miglia — Sant’Eufemia Brescia, Italy
The Mille Miglia Car Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum located in the historic St. Eufemia Monastery in Sant’Eufemia della Fonte, a small town in the Lombard province of Brescia. The museum not only displays and preserves cars but also brings back to life the famous Mille Miglia race. The museum has materialized many things with the help of various collectors and partnerships with other car museums, such as the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany. The museum honors the cars, drivers, and stories behind every race through its vast car collection and souvenirs. The museum showcases car models from the 1920s, including unique cars that participated in the Mille Miglia annual car events. Visitors can also find rare archives, which are the best reference for research on classic car sporting events and races.
Stanguellini Classic Car Museum — Modena, Italy
The Stanguellini father and son, Francisco and Vittoro, were pioneers in the world of car creation prior to Enzo Ferrari and the Maserati siblings. Vittorio was renowned as the “father of the Formula Junior” and was nicknamed “the transformer” due to his talent for transforming regular cars into race cars. The Stanguellini Classic Cars Museum, founded in 1995 by the famous Italian family, showcases vintage cars and race souvenirs that can be viewed for free with a reservation. The museum also features the family’s personal collection of cars, including Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Porsche models. The Fiat Type 0, dating back to 1910 and bearing the “MO 1” license plate, is another interesting car on display – it is the oldest car in Modena and the first ever to be registered there.
Museo della Ford Paolo Gratton — Farra d’Isonzo, Italy
While Ford may not have originated in Italy, one of the most prominent Italian Ford dealers, Paolo Gratton, founded the Ford Paolo Gratton Museum. Situated in the northeastern Italian town of Farra d’Isonzo, in the Friulan province of Gorizia, the museum houses Gratton’s car collection and other memorabilia. The museum boasts an impressive collection of vintage cars, including the 1902 Oldsmobile Curved Dash, 1918 Fiat 501, 1934 Lancia Augusta, and many other cars created by Ford Motor Company. The museum showcases fully functioning, original cars that are in pristine condition. The museum’s ambiance resembles the old Ford Trieste factory in the 1920s, providing visitors with a unique experience. Visitors are welcome to schedule an appointment for a free tour of the museum.
Museo Ducati — Bologna, Italy
Even though Ducati is primarily known for its motorcycles, its museum is a must-see attraction. You’ll be amazed by the variety of motorcycle models on display and the company’s rich history that is showcased throughout the museum. Located at the Ducati factory in Bologna, the museum features motorcycles and some of the company’s earlier products. Plus, it’s conveniently located near the Ferrari and Lamborghini Museums, making it easy to visit all three in one trip.
Museo Enzo Ferrari — Modena, Italy
Visit the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena, Italy, to explore the life and work of the famous Ferrari founder. The museum is housed in a modern building added to Enzo Ferrari’s childhood home and workshop. Admire a stunning collection of Ferrari cars, including Formula One race cars, sports cars, and classic models from the 1950s. This museum offers a unique and captivating experience that showcases Italian culture and the world’s most renowned car brand.
Museo Enzo Ferrari — Maranello, Italy
You can take a shuttle from the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena to visit the official Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy. This museum is a popular destination, attracting over 200,000 tourists annually. You will have the opportunity to experience the “Prancing Horse dream” firsthand. The museum is located near the Ferrari factory, so you can also explore the area where the cars are made. The museum features themed areas dedicated to Formula One, Sport and Sport-Prototype cars, and Road GranTurismo. Additionally, you can even sit in the cockpit of a Formula 1 car at the Maranello Museum. In addition to viewing Ferrari-related exhibits, the museum offers exciting Ferrari rides and other activities that you’ll never forget.
Museo Ferrucio Lamborghini — Argelato, Bologna, Italy
This museum, located in the Argelato comune in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, Italy, was built in memory of Ferruccio Lamborghini, founder of the Lamborghini brand, by his son Tonino Lamborghini. The museum is unique because it showcases not only the first-ever Lamborghini, the Carioca tractor, but also Ferruccio’s personal car collection, including vintage cars like Countach, Espada, Jarama, and Urraco, as well as the Fiat Barchetta Sport from the 1948 Mille Miglia competition. The Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum is a tribute to the Lamborghini family’s legacy, and it also contains an extensive archive of their photos. Additionally, visitors can view two special stories: a helicopter prototype and the 11-time world champion Fast 45 Diablo Class 1 offshore boat, both equipped with Lamborghini engines. If you’re lucky, you may even receive a personal tour from Ferruccio’s nephew, Fabio, who is very involved with the museum.
Museo Lamborghini / MUDETEC — Sant’Agata Bolognese, Bologna, Italy
Visit the Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese, located in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, if you appreciate fast and beautiful cars. The museum has been updated to MUDETEC, which stands for Museo Delle Tecnologie (Museum of Technologies) and features a two-floor exhibit showcasing the history of Lamborghini sports cars and SUVs. From the very first model to the iconic ones, car enthusiasts will appreciate the display of Lamborghini models, including one-offs and reduced-scale models. Additionally, visitors can catch a glimpse of the Lamborghini factory, which is connected to the museum. For the ultimate Lamborghini experience, MUDETEC also offers a driving simulator.
Museo Storico Alfa Romeo — Arese, Milan, Italy
If you happen to be in Milan, the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum is definitely worth a visit, regardless of whether you’re a fan or owner of Alfa Romeo cars. The museum showcases the earliest Alfa Romeo models and also has a merchandise shop where you can purchase some Alfa Romeo memorabilia. The museum is located in the comune of Arese within the Metropolitan City of Milan, and it exhibits the most remarkable and historical models of the former A.L.F.A brand, now known as Alfa Romeo. The museum is situated on the grounds of the former Alfa Romeo Arese factory, which was founded in 1976 by Giuseppe Luraghi and Gaetano Cortesi and owned by Stellantis. Although it closed down in 2011, it reopened in 2015. A short 4D film shown in the museum’s theatre will captivate and enhance your tour. Your visit to the museum will offer you an insight into the brand’s history, unique and creative car designs, as well as a glimpse at prototype vehicles and vintage Alfa Romeo models.
