Italian car museums and factory tours

[DJ]

Going to Bologna & Florence in April and looking to negotiate with the Mrs to steal a day away from the family to visit one of the supercar factories or museums. Anyone visited any, or any experience to share? From reading on-line there are often differences between factories and museums; both in location and who can visit (factories sometimes just for owners?). Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani and Maserati all seem to be in reach. Bikes aren't my thing so will give Ducati a miss. Not too bothered about which one, or even two if feasible in a day. Just want to have a good day out.

These guys also seem to get good reviews if going down the organised tour route and wondered if anyone had used them? http://www.motorstars.org/

[Dark]

The Mille Miglia Museum in Brescia (just west of Lake Garda) is nice for an hour or two.

http://www.museomillemiglia.it/en/

[Dominic]

Supercar valley well worth a visit. Pagani is a must! Ferrari has a good museum too, I was less impressed with Lamborghini, albeit about 5 years ago.

AFAIK Pagani is a pre-book only basis (was when I went) and can get booked up, so worth getting sorted sooner than later.

[Dominic]

Some photos and review of my trip;

http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... ly#p374096

[Super7]

There has been a superb program on this week with a chef touring that area in a Maserati, can't remember what it's called, I'll try to find out later, he went to the Ferrari museum, looked ace. The town of Ferrara looked wort a visit too.

[Lazydonkey]

I did Pagani (which was amazing) and Ferrari (which was good but a bit theme park) in the same day and it was easily doable.

My very patient wife enjoyed ferrari more than pagani but the car geek in me saw it the other way round. Turns out my wife isn't nearly as excited about carbo-titanium as i am

We had lunch the ferrari restaurant which used to host all the f1 stars which was quite cool too. Not sure you need to do an organised tour, we just booked pagani in advance and i think we just turned up at ferrari.

[Corranga]

Strongly considering doing this next year, it's been a while since I've been on a petrol head type holiday!

[DJ]

Thanks all. Should have done a search first to pick up your 5yr old thread Dom. I knew I hadn't seen anything on here recently about anyone making a visit so appreciate the link. Great photos!

Sounds like Pagani is one to keep high on the list. Need to weigh up the tour vs organising own transport as not sure if we are hiring a car if there only for a few days.

Super7 - don't know the program, but sounds the sort of thing James Martin might do as he's into his cars and previously attempted the Mille Miglia. Think that museum might be a bit far north this time to make best use of my single day pass, Mark, but thanks for link.

[jason]

Not James Martin (thank goodness! ) but Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli with British art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon.

Here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... -the-feast

Ferrari museum at about 40 mins

[renmure]

I haven't heard anyone say anything other than great things about the Ferrari tour. A guy I know through work did the Lamborghini one last summer and wasn't as enthusiastic, but he isn't really a car-nut so that might not be the best guide.

[douglasgdmw]

DJ,

I have done the Pagani and Mille Miglia museum when I was touring Italy in the Evora. The Pagani is very good from an enthusiast perspective but it may not appeal if you wife is not much of a motor nut.

We really enjoyed the Mille Miglia museum as it was a little bit different to the normal car museum of endless cars and had a bit of a subplot showing in the cars and changes in motoring during the ages.

George

[Corranga]

Anyone got a google maps type route picking up some nice roads on the way...?

[douglasgdmw]

Forgot to say that I have a really nice hotel just outside of Florence.

Stayed at it a number of times over the years. If you want details then let me know.

George

[DJ]

Forgot to say that I have a really nice hotel just outside of Florence.

Stayed at it a number of times over the years. If you want details then let me know.

George

Thanks George. Mainly going to base ourselves in Bologna so looking at a city centre hotel for the one or two nights in Florence.

[Victor Meldrew]

Not James Martin (thank goodness! ) but Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli with British art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon.

Here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... -the-feast

Ferrari museum at about 40 mins

Watched this, pretty decent programme..