Emilia Romagna is world famous for many reasons, from food and wine excellence such as Parma ham, Parmesan cheese, tortellini and balsamic vinegar, to great people like Luciano Pavarotti and the poet Ludovico Ariosto, just to name a few.

But people in the know call the Emilia Romagna, Motor Valley, in fact, this territory boasts 13 museums, 188 sports teams including clubs and stables, 12 private collections, 4 racetracks, 11 kart tracks, international circuits and splendid motorcycle race tracks.

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, the legendary Pagani and Ducati, the Imola and Misano circuits are just some many brands dedicated to this passion. Car enthusiasts are spoiled for choice.

The Casa Enzo Ferrari Museum (ferrari.com), or more simply known by the acronym MEF, combines the history of the Prancing Horse with environmental sustainability by leading the way in reducing consumption and harmful emissions.

Inaugurated in 2012, it includes the perfectly restored house that gave birth to Enzo and the Officina Meccanica Alfredo Ferrari, where his father worked and now houses the section related to engines and technological innovation.

Inside the futuristic building, besides the permanent collection; a display of Ferraris that have captivated the most important stars of cinema, entertainment and sport. Make sure you don’t miss the Ferrari 166 M, a model never exhibited at a car show.

For every motor enthusiast, a visit to Maranello (ferrari.com) is an experience to do at least once in a lifetime. After passing by the historic Ferrari entrance in Via Abetone Inferiore 4, where, in 1947, the first car was released, the appointment is at the Ferrari Museum.

Developing on a space of 2,500sqm, it allows visitors to discover iconic models of the brand such as the Ferrari F40. A must for Formula 1 fans is the Trophies Room, with the cups won by Cavallino riders such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher.

A short distance away is the F1 single-seater collection, all linked to important sporting achievements.

Fun fact: besides the static cars it is possible to experience the cockpit of a Formula 1 single-seater, thanks to the simulators inside the museum.

The Enzo Ferrari Museum (MEF) in Modena and the Ferrari Museum in Maranello are are about 20 km apart and they can be easily visited together on the same day. There is a 20-minute shuttle service regularly connecting the two museums throughout the day.

To visit the Umberto Panini Collection (paninimotormuseum.it), you must aim for the countryside of Modena. Once past the gate of the Hombre farm, a historic warehouse hides one of the most important Maserati collections in the world.

Create thanks to the passion of Umberto Panini, a historic entrepreneur who together with his brothers gave life to the eponymous sticker-card empire, the collection represents a real Maserati museum and inside there are unique pieces.

Among the models on display, the Maserati 420M Eldorado, a car built expressly for the 1958 Monza 500 Miglia and driven by Stirling Moss. Fun fact! This was the first Italian sport car competition to be sponsored by a company outside the motoring world. Its sponsor was, in fact, the Eldorado, a company that marketed ice cream, whose name ended up identifying the car in the collective imagination.

It is Francesco Stanguellini (stanguellini.it), son of the famous Vittorio, builder of small-displacement racing cars, the founder and promoter of the museum in 1996.

The collection comprises thirty racing cars and coupes, including the first FIAT Sport 750 and 1100 cars of the fifties, and, again, the Stanguellini Junior 1100 of the sixties, up to to the famous Colibrì designed by Scaglione and the prestigious Formula 3.

In addition to work tools and unique motor parts, there are photographic documents, advertising materials, plaques and diplomas that are linked to the events of the famous sports brand and trace the history of motoring in Modena, starting with the oldest car in the city (the one bearing the “1-MO” plate, the first registered in 1910).

Also on display are cars from the family private collection of Porsche, Maserati and Alfa Romeo.

From Modena we move to Sant’Agata Bolognese, where inside the historic Lamborghini factory (lamborghini.com) is the homonymous museum completely renovated in 2016.

Designed to offer a 360-degree experience, inside it is possible to discover the origins of the brand and the first successful sport cars such as the 350 GT and the Miura.

Besides past and present models, there is no shortage of racing cars, including the single-seater that brought Lamborghini into Formula 1. A large space dedicated to the technological innovation developed over the years, such as the use of carbon fibre and hybrid solutions.

If today Lamborghini Auto is a brand known all over the world it is because of the intuition of Ferruccio Lamborghini. After having achieved success with the production of tractors, the Emilian entrepreneur entered the motoring sector at the beginning of the 60s and he did it realizing the 350 GTV. The turning point came in 1966 when the Lamborghini Miura was presented at the Geneva Motor Show.

The Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum (museolamborghini.com) was born to celebrate the founder and allow visitors to discover its evolution. Although it is not connected in any way with the Sant’Agata Bolognese brand, inside there is no lack of precious and unique pieces.

Fun fact: legend has it that Ferruccio Lamborghini started to build cars after Enzo Ferrari, against criticism of one of his cars, warmly advised him to continue building tractors and leave the cars behind.

A place where style, imagination and technology come together to create the Italian super car! Spreading the excellence of the Made in Italy in the world! A true atelier giving a unique opportunity to observe closely some of the world’s most exclusive cars such as the Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary, the spectacular Zondas and the red Zonda F Coupe and the orange Zonda F Roadster.

For bike enthusiasts, the Ducati Museum (ducatimuseum.com)is located in Borgo Panigale, which traces the glorious past of the famous Bolognese brand. The museum offers the visitor a double reading: on the one hand, the bikes have been arranged chronologically according to a circular route; on the other, six thematic in-depth rooms contain detailed documentation on the different historical periods. Here enthusiasts can also visit the factory.