The Motor Valley Grand Slam

There's no time to waste – we dive straight into the heart of history: our first stop is the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari, also known by the acronym MEF, dedicated to the life and work of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the Prancing Horse car manufacturer.

Located in Modena, the building that houses the museum is shaped like a bonnet and is yellow, a reference to the colour Enzo Ferrari chose as the background for the famous brand logo, as well as the city's official colour.

While you are in the area, in addition to an inviting stop at one of the city centre’s traditional eateries, a visit to the headquarters of another iconic brand is a must.

This is Pagani, whose factory is located in San Cesario sul Panaro, where you can visit the atelier and the collection of supercars designed by Horacio Pagani, each created in accordance with the founding principle of combining technology and design.

At this point, your passion for cars is already running high, and all that remains is to continue on to a stop that promises to deliver more unforgettable excitement. 

You need to travel to Sant'Agata Bolognese, near Bologna, to explore the Lamborghini factory and museum.

During a visit to the factory, you can learn about the stages involved in creating iconic models such as the V12 Aventador: the tour begins with the work on the interior and the leather, and continues through the construction of the chassis, bodywork, engine, gearbox, suspension and brakes, right up to the finished car.

The museum, on the other hand, traces all the milestones that have shaped the brand's history: historic cars, images and photographs that tell the story of the past, present and future ambitions of one of Italy's leading car manufacturers.

Before moving on to the next stop, it's worth remembering that we're in Bologna – wouldn't it be appropriate to treat ourselves to a plate of tagliatelle with meat sauce and a visit to the famous Two Towers? Of course it is: from the top floor of the Torre degli Asinelli, you can enjoy a view of Bologna that is unique in the world, from the hills to the lowlands (the tower is currently closed for maintenance). 

After our city break, we make a grand return to the road with a factory tour where the adrenaline is palpable. Here we are at the Ducati factory in Borgo Panigale.

A tour of the factory means not only discovering how a Ducati motorcycle is made, but also soaking up the electrifying atmosphere of the various stages of engine production and assembly, the assembly lines and the acceptance tests, and even getting a glimpse of the legendary Racing Department.

Also included in the experience is a visit to the Ducati Museum, a journey through the company's 90-year history, where each motorcycle on display is a work of art that tells a story of people and passion. 

We then continue on to the Checco Costa Museum, located at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit in Imola, which features an exhibition that recounts the origins of the circuit’s history through reconstructions of the first motorcycling and motor racing events held here.

Inside the museum, there are numerous memorabilia related to Ayrton Senna, including some of the cars he raced in: two Formula Ford cars, his Formula 3 car, and the Mercedes 190 E saloon in which he triumphed in Formula 1 at the Nürburgring race in 1984.

Also on display are a number of iconic models, such as the Lotus 98T with the John Player Special livery, the McLaren MP4/6 (1991), the McLaren MP4-8 (1993) and the Williams FW16 (1994).

It is also here that the Ayrton Senna monument is located, right by the Tamburello corner within the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit in Imola, which has quickly become a veritable pilgrimage site not only for fans who still remember him with the utmost affection, but also for Formula 1 enthusiasts who did not have the privilege of witnessing his performances on the track.

On the statue depicting him is engraved a quote from the driver: 'I think I'm a long way from the way of life I'd like to lead.'

The last stop on this itinerary along the legendary MotorValley is located in Romagna, more specifically in Coriano.

This is the birthplace of the much-loved rider Marco Simoncelli, and it is here that ‘the story of Sic’ is told, thanks to the museum dedicated to him.

The Simoncelli Museum tells the story of how a young man from Romagna, armed with a passionate love for two wheels and a great deal of determination, went on to triumph as world champion in the 250cc class in 2008 and then, tragically, passed away at the age of just 24 during the Malaysian Grand Prix.

It is an utterly moving experience, where visitors can retrace his sporting and non-sporting exploits, with a gallery featuring motorbikes, helmets, overalls and other items that belonged to the rider.