Best Cars Museums in Bologna

It is indisputable that Bologna is one of the great treasures of northern Italy. But its impressive monumental heritage and its gastronomy are not its only attractions. If you are a fan of the world of motors and speed, here you will find some of the best car museums in Europe.

Have you ever heard of Italy's Motor Valley? Visiting it is one of the best plans to enjoy Bologna because without going too far from the center or within a few kilometers of this city you can visit not only museums, but also factories of some of the historic brands of the automotive world. Do you want to know which ones they are? If so, read on and let's get started!

If you are passionate about super luxury cars, in the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum you can learn much more about the brand and, above all, its founder. It exhibits from the tractor model with which he founded his first company to some of the most iconic sports cars of the house.

But the museum contains some other attractions, such as a helicopter prototype or the reconstruction of the first office of Ferruccio Lamborghini and some personal items that allow you to get much closer to the figure of the founder of the brand.

Information of interest

• Address: Provincial Road 4, Galliera n. 319.
• Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. Saturdays from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:30. Closed Mondays, Sundays and Christmas. It is always advisable to check if there are any changes before visiting the museum.
• Price: about 10 € for reduced admission and about 15 € for general admission.

The brand of the Prancing Horse is one of the most iconic in the world of motoring, so if you are a fan of the engine, you can not leave Bologna without visiting the Ferrari Museum in Manarello. It offers a fabulous journey through the past, present and future of the brand.

In its rooms you will see very special models, classics that have made history or vehicles that have won Formula 1 world championships. There are even prototypes on display that will make you want to get behind the wheel of any of them. The best part? In this museum you can almost make your dream come true. I say almost because you won't be able to drive a real car, but you can drive a simulator.

And, if you feel like it and still have time, you can still get much more out of it and extend your visit. As in other automotive museums in the Motor Valley, you can take part in a panoramic tour of the facilities where the vehicles are manufactured.

I also recommend going to the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena, where you will learn much more about the founder of the brand. Of course, both museums are located a few kilometers from Bologna.

Useful information

• Address: Via Alfredo Dino Ferrari, 43, Maranello.
• Price: about 22 € for the museum only. With factory visit and simulator, the price rises to about 65 €. Discounts are available for students and seniors over 65, while children under 5 and the disabled are free. There is a pass to visit the Ferrari Museum in Manarello and the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena for about 25 €.
• Hours: both museums are usually open from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm from April to October. From November to March the closing time is one hour earlier. Both December 25 and January 1 are closed.

In addition to the one located in Bologna, Lamborghini has another museum outside the city, but in the Motor Valley. And it is worth the trip to visit it. In the Lamborghini MUDETEC Museum you will see models that will make you die of envy. Models like the historic Miura, the Aventador or the Urus. Cars within reach of only a lucky few.

In addition, this space offers an added attraction, because it is also a Museum of Technology. What does this mean? That you can discover all (or almost all) the secrets of the manufacture of these cars in their production lines.

And not only that, if you have been left wanting to know what you experience at the wheel of one of them, go and discover it in a driving simulator.

By the way, during the visit you will surely discover one of the curiosities of the brand: the reason why it was created. Its origin is none other than the rivalry between Ferruccio Lamborghini and Enzo Ferrari. The story is most curious, but I will not reveal it to you to add some more excitement to one of the most interesting museums in Bologna.

Information of interest

• Address: Via Modena 12, Sant'Agata Bolognese.
• Hours: usually from Monday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except special closing days.
• Price: about 15 € general admission, with factory visit and simulator the price rises to about 75 €. Students, seniors and people with disabilities have special discounts.

If in addition to cars you like motorcycles, reserve time for a leisurely visit to the Ducati Museum. In its halls you will be able to go through the history of the brand from its beginnings to the present day through four exhibition routes: Ducati Moments, Origins, History and History in competitions.

Of course, you will see some of its most iconic models on display. Don't miss the Siluro 100, which broke 46 speed records at the Monza circuit, and take a look at the 750 GT, which was Ducati's first Superbike; or the 500 Pantah, the first with a steel trellis frame.

The best thing is that the exhibition route does not only show motorcycles that have made history. The Ducati Museum also exhibits special models for other reasons. One that is particularly symbolic is the Ducati Desmosedici, with which Casey Stoner won the first Moto GP championship for the brand.

Is that not enough? There's more. If you want to enjoy a complete experience, you can also visit the factory. A guided tour will show you part of the facilities and you will see up close how the brand's motorcycles are designed and assembled. Undoubtedly one of the most interesting memories you will take away from your visit to Bologna.

Useful information

• Address: Via Antonio Cavalieri Ducati, 3, Bologna.
• HoursNormallyopen from Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00. Closed on Wednesdays. It is always advisable to check that there are no changes before visiting.
• Price: from 12 € museum only. With visit to the factory, from 22 €. Children under 11 years old and people with disabilities have free admission.

Bologna is a perfect starting point to discover all the treasures of the Motor Valley, starting with the two museums mentioned above, but continuing with others that are very close to this city and have nothing at all to envy them.

Maserati Factory

Although the Maserati factory is not located in the city, the brand was created in Bologna. And it was here that all the cars were manufactured during its first years. In fact, the brand's logo itself reminds us of the trident of Neptune. What does it have to do with the city? The fountain representing this deity is one of the most famous monuments in Bologna.

Why do I talk about a factory and not a museum? Because the factory can be visited, but the pieces of the former museum of the brand are not here. In any case, the tour of the factory is very interesting. You will discover a factory equipped with the latest technologies. The visits include the laboratory, the assembly line and the painting area, among other spaces.

In any case, don't think you'll be left wanting to see some of the Maserati models. You can always stop by the showroom and dream of enjoying some of the vehicles you will be able to see and touch. And, if you want to admire historical pieces, you will have to visit the Umberto Panini Collection, which acquired the pieces from the old museum before they were auctioned.

Information of interest:

• Address: Via Divisione Acqui 17, Modena.
• Price: about 50 €. Seniors over 65, children under 17 and students have a discount. Children under 6 years old are free.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except special closing days.

Horacio Pagani Museum

Passionate about the automotive world, Horacio Pagani worked for years for Lamborghini. In the early 90's he decided to manufacture his own designs. If you have seen images of his models: the Zonda, the Huayra or the Codalunga, you already know that they are vehicles with elegant and ultramodern lines.

At the Horacio Pagani Museum you can admire some of the brand's most representative models up close. And, as with their big brothers, you can also visit the factory to see how they work in the design and assembly of these exclusive vehicles.

During the visit you will discover, for example, how there are elements that are made in an almost handmade way, as is the case of the upholstery. In short, although it is not one of the best-known car museums in Bologna and its surroundings, it is well worth a visit.

Information of interest:

• Address: Via dell'Industria 26; San Cesario Sul Panaro.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (museum only).
• Price: about 18 € museum only and about 55 € if a guided tour of the museum and the factory is included. Seniors over 65 and under 18 have special prices. Children under 12 are free.

Other museums and private collections you can visit near Bologna

If you are a true motoring enthusiast, my advice is to organize a trip of several days to Bologna. If not, you will be left wanting much more. The reason? All the museums and factories I've told you about are just a small sample of what you can visit. The city is located in the heart of the Motor Valley and you can plan several day trips from Bologna to discover them.

What other museums and collections can you visit? The Nigelli Collection, one of the most interesting antique motorcycle collections in Italy; or the Mauro Pascoli Vespa Collection in nearby Ravenna. Other options: the Saussolo Collection of Vintage Cars and Motorcycles or the National Motorcycling Museum, among others.

The good thing about visiting a region where the engine of its economy is precisely the automotive industry is that you have endless plans to enjoy. If in addition to seeing car and motorcycle museums or visiting factories you want to release a little adrenaline, I propose a plan: get into a sports car and do a few laps of a racing circuit.

You can do it at the Autodromo di Modena. There you can drive a sports car and experience firsthand what it's like to step on the accelerator and almost, almost fly. If you visit the Ferrari Museum, for example, you can buy a combined ticket to the museum and the circuit, so the experience will be complete.

Whether you decide to visit one, two or several of the car museums in Bologna and surroundings, there are some important aspects you should take into account in order to fully enjoy your visit:

• In many of them the visits, especially if they include a tour of the factory, must be booked in advance. So I recommend you do it in advance to avoid running out of tickets.
• Do not forget that the visit to each museum alone can take time, between two and three hours minimum. If you are also interested in the tour of the factories, you will need a full morning or afternoon.
• In general, the museums are open all week, but the closing days do not coincide. In some cases they close only on Christmas, but in others there are some additional days. It is best to check on the website.
• Bologna is an important communication hub in the region, so you will have no problem reaching the museums by public transport, both by train and bus. You should keep in mind, however, that in some cases you will have to make transfers and that can take time.
• To visit the largest number of museums and collections in comfort, the ideal is to opt for guided tours. The most popular, however, are those that include the Ferrari Museum and the Lamborghini Museum.

As I told you before, the museums have a very long opening hours, they close very few days. Therefore, you can include them among the things to see in Bologna in summer, in spring or even in winter vacations. Moreover, it is a great plan to do with children because visiting any of the museums will be an adventure for them.

However, there are some dates when you can especially enjoy everything related to the engine in Bologna and in the other towns that make up the Motor Valley. The reason is that it hosts a host of activities and events for automotive enthusiasts.

The most important is the Motor Valley Fest, which in just a few editions has become an unmissable event for lovers of everything related to the motor. What awaits you there? Of course, exhibitions of the latest novelties of the most relevant brands in the valley. Also conferences, competitions and contests. Of course, the dates vary from one edition to another, so there is no other option but to keep an eye out.

There are other interesting events, such as the Italian Speed Festival, the Campioni in Piazza or the Modena Cento Ore. Any of them is a perfect excuse to travel to Bologna and immerse yourself in the exciting world of motor racing.