Where the Maranello museum is about the cars, the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena is about the man. Enzo Ferrari was born in Modena in 1898, and the museum sits beside the house where he grew up. A modern exhibition pavilion of about 2,500 square metres, inspired by the lines of a 1950s racing car, stands next to the restored family home, whose rooms and the workshop of his father have been preserved. Inside the hall, Ferraris are arranged to trace the story from the very first car to contemporary designs, and every half hour a film is projected across the walls by 19 high-definition projectors, turning the hangar into a panoramic cinema about Ferrari’s legacy. Next door, the old workshop has become an engine museum. The mix of intimate family history and a very contemporary exhibition makes this a good first stop for anyone who wants to understand how the son of a Modena metalworker built a name that is known around the world, and it is easy to reach by train, which the Maranello museum is not.
How it works
The ticket linked here covers entry to the Modena museum only. Visits start at set times, the tour lasts about an hour and a half, groups are capped at twenty, and guidance is available as an audio guide and live commentary in English, German and Italian. Video guides are available on site for an extra fee. The museum is wheelchair accessible, and free cancellation with a full refund and free rescheduling are available until 24 hours before the visit. Combination tickets with the Maranello museum and other motor museums are sold separately.
Getting there
Modena is a short regional train ride from Bologna, and the museum is about a seven-minute walk from Modena railway station. City buses 9 and 14 stop near the museum, and another bus line serves the Modena-Maserati area. This makes the museum the easiest car attraction to reach from Bologna without a car, and a sensible morning stop before lunch in Modena.
Making the most of it
Arrive for the start time and begin with the family house, so that the pavilion reads as the second chapter rather than the first. Time your visit so that you are in the main hall when the half-hourly film begins, since it is the highlight for many visitors. Afterwards, Modena’s cathedral and market, and the traditional balsamic vinegar producers around the city, are natural continuations. If you plan to see Maranello as well, take the shuttle or bus afterwards and keep the Modena museum for the morning.
What to expect
The experience
A guided visit with an audio guide and live commentary through the birthplace and the pavilion, including a panoramic film shown every half hour.
Best time
The morning slot suits a day that continues to lunch in Modena or on to Maranello.
How long
About an hour and a half, with groups limited to twenty.
Tips
Walk from Modena station in about seven minutes, plan to be in the main hall for the film, and buy a combination ticket separately if you also want Maranello.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone curious about Enzo Ferrari’s life, plus architecture and design lovers who like a striking modern pavilion.
- Families
- Older children will enjoy the film and the cars; the museum is wheelchair accessible.
- Couples
- A pleasant, unhurried half-day that pairs well with a lunch of tortellini or a tasting of balsamic vinegar.
- Pair with
- The Ferrari Museum in Maranello, a Modena balsamic vinegar tasting and a walk through Modena’s historic centre.
- Time needed
- About ninety minutes inside and half a day including the train from Bologna.
Good questions
What is the difference between the Modena and Maranello museums?+
The Modena museum tells the founder’s story from his birthplace and a modern pavilion, while the Maranello museum focuses on Formula One and road cars made by the company.
How long is the visit?+
The visit lasts about an hour and a half.
How do I get there from Bologna?+
Take a regional train to Modena and walk about seven minutes from the station to the museum.
Are guides included?+
An audio guide and live commentary are available in English, German and Italian. Video guides are an extra fee on site.
Can I cancel?+
Free cancellation with a full refund and free rescheduling are available until 24 hours before your visit.
