National Automobile Museum of Turin

A unique collection of cars in the world

The MAUTO - National Automobile Museum is among the oldest museums of its kind. In 1932, Cesare Goria Gatti and Roberto Biscaretti di Ruffia – two of the founders of the Turin Automobile Club in 1898 and of Fiat the following year – had the first idea of creating a museum dedicated to an object whose history had only just begun: the automobile. Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia (son of Roberto) – appointed 'provisional authorising officer' on 19 July 1933 – assembled the initial collection and fought for that visionary idea to become a reality. He passed away in 1959 and the current headquarters on Corso Unità d'Italia were named after him, built to the design of architect Amedeo Albertini and solemnly inaugurated on 3 November 1960.

Today, the MAUTO preserves a collection of cars that is unique in the world, enhanced by the spectacular scenic contextualisation created by François Confino and the architectural renovation carried out by architect Cino Zucchi on the 150th anniversary of Italian unification: over 200 original cars of 80 brands from around the world divided into an exhibition itinerary on three floors: The car and the twentieth century, The car and man and Temporary exhibitions and design.

Completing the museum itinerary: the Documentation Centre, the Mauto Labs - where the various educational activities proposed by the museum take place - and the Restoration Centre that carries out conservation and restoration activities of historic vehicles in collaboration with ACI – Automobile Club Italia, which is still among the Museum's ordinary shareholders, in order to pass on the cultural, technological and social value of historic cars from generation to generation.

Interesting fact:

• The museum's collection includes 217 vehicles, including 189 cars, 14 motorcycles, motor tricycles and quadricycles, 40 engines and 28 chassis. Among the most valuable cars, the delightful Peugeot Type 3 of 1892, the first car ever to circulate in Italy.

• In 2013, the Times ranked it among the 50 most beautiful museums in the world.

• MAUTO has won TripAdvisor's most coveted award: the Travelers' Choice Award, based on feedback and opinions from the global travel community.