Italian manufacturers’ tours: who’s been there recently?

Lambo and Masi are also nice tours

 

Pagani factory is a must see.

 

Pagani is interesting in how small it is. Its like a medium size warehouse, with a nice lobby. I think unless you have a car on order a "tour" may be difficult. Lamborghini and Maserati are show up and pay for the museum tour... which is nice.... but a bit boring. the factory it self is not much.

Ferrari is the Disney of tours... if you are an owner, its worth the time. I've been several times, and its always impressive.

 

I believe the masi and lambo factory tours have to be booked shead time ..at least that was the way it was in 2019

I do agree the museum part of both is nothing special ..need to do both... Factory and museum

 

Whatever you pick, make your own arrangements and do not go with the herd of toursits and their group "factory" visits.
You never know what might attract you and you would like some more time to spend at location X while the tour operator forces you to leave for the next destination. And try to make max 2 visits per day.
Just my 2c.

 

+1 on above

 

I've heard the Ferruccio Lamborghini museum is a good one to check out: https://www.museolamborghini.com/en/the-museum/
Harry's Garage did a video on it awhile ago that gives a good overview of whats there.


The NYT also just posted an article on the motor valley factory museums today: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/travel/motor-valley-italy-supercars.html

 

Taking my daughter to the F1 race in Imola in mid May and my dealer arranged for a factory tour at Ferrari. Any advice for those that have toured the factory?

 

I talked to a Pagani assistant at the last Bologna motor show and visiting the factory might be possible even if you’re not a customer.
Bue

 

Lamborghini factory tour needs to be booked months in advance. The museum is well worth it though even if the factory tour is booked out.

 

I visited it as a walk in, and they allowed me to walk into the Assembly area. It looks more like a race team than a car factory, but was still cool. Even saw Mr. Pagani. who came by to shake hands. there were about 30 people that I saw. When I was there they were testing a Porsche Carrera GT, it was going in and out of the back gates. No Pagani's seen that day on the road. obviously no pictures allowed. they have a small but very nice gift shop in the glass atrium area as well. well worth the diversion. its in a small industrial estate.

 

do the morning tour if possible and then lunch at either Cavalino or Montana. I've done the lunch before the tour... and with all the wine and pasta I just felt tired during the tour. Shopping F1 is across the street its a not to miss shop. parking can be hard, so we parked in the lot across the street from the museum and walked to the factory reception area. OR if you stay at the Planet hotel, you may get a spot there to park. We like the Maranello Palace hotel, on the other side of the factory... its like a slightly up scale Hilton Garden Inn.

 

Thank you! We’re gonna catch a ride over from Bologna which is where we are staying for the week. Our tour is at 10:00. Looking forward to it!

 

Cool. The AM tour is best in my opinion. it gets warm in the factory in the afternoon, and after a big lunch ( lots of wine ) I had a hard time staying awake! make sure you have plenty of time after the tour for the museum, I can never spend enough time there!

 

Great info! I am going in October. Do you do the 2 or 4 hour factory tour and did it include lunch at Cavalino? Do you have any tips on car rental? Was thinking of riding train to Florence and renting there and driving up, staying night in Maranello then doing tour, followed by museum. We'd stay another night and do some other museums the next day and then head back to Florence.

 

Good morning.
If you have time and want to drive between Firenze and Bologna, I suggest to consider taking the SS65 instead of the A1. It takes twice as much time, maybe less than two hours instead of one, but it is one of the early Mille Miglia roads with beautiful scenery and it is very very fun to drive. A stop at the Chalet della Raticosa, full of bikers (especially on the weekends), is also very fun and a place full of character for a snack like a sandwich with finocchiona (a type of salame) or else.
I go there often.
Enjoy Italy!
Nic

 

Thanks! I wish I had more time but after reviewing the time between Florence and Bologna, we have decided to take train from Milan to Bologna and drive to Maranello and stay at the Planet Hotel. What a location that hotel has!. We will have a day for the Ferrari factory tour and the museum, and have a day for other factories/museums before returning to Bologna.

 

That's great, enjoy your trip! Just one thing: if you will spend any time in Bologna, my town, I strongly recommend at least one unforgettable lunch or dinner at Osteria Broccaindosso, a very very special typical place. Reservation is mandatory. You can ask for my friends Roberto or Gianni, the owners, and say you had their reference from Nicola (me). Enjoy Italy!
Ciao.
Nic

 

I've done Ferrari and Pagani several times as well as Lamborghini once.

The Pagani Factory Tour including the museum can be booked directly via the Pagani website. To visit the museum, you don't need to book in advance but for the factory tour it's recommended. I was lucky some years ago to be able to join without booking, but on all other 4 visits we did the booking in advance. estimate about 2-3h on site, you need approx 30 Min from Maranello to Pagani.

Ferrari factory tour can only be booked via your dealer as you know. we had 3 different tour options to choose from this yeaer and opted for the 2.5h normal factory tour. unfortunately Classiche is not included, but I've been there last year and the year before so can skip that one time (hoping though, that our guide makes an exception and passes at least the buildings )
As we have dinner not included in the tour this year, we'll go to Montana and also vist the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena. In Maranello there's also some small shops to see (e.g. Auto Toni).

At Lamborghini I was about 6 or 7 years ago and it was OK, but for me not compareable to the other two. Back then we simply booked via the website as well but as this was some time ago, I'm not sure if still the same today.

Enjoy the trip

Martin

 

Great Info! Can you expound a little on the 3 different tour options? I am expecting to be there on October 3rd and am staying across the street at the Planet Hotel.

 

Good suggestion! We do expect to spend some time in Bologna. We plan to come there by train from Milan and rent a car near the station and leave for Maranello, staying there for two days. We will then come back to Bologna on Saturday or Sunday night and plan to stay in the city for one or two nights but not sure where yet. Any other suggestions for accommodations there? We will probably take you up on the Osteria Broccaindosso suggestion! We will leave there and train to Rome.

 

Your dealer should have a pdf overview of the different tour types that are offered.
From memory (don't have the pdf on hand), there's the standard 2.5h tour with car/engine and F1 assembly, Corse Clienti and Galleria Ferrari - the tour we'll do in june. The other two tours options included in addition dinner at Cavallino, Classiche, Museo Enzo Ferrari instead of the Galleria in Maranello.

Martin

 

The city centre is restricted to non resident cars, so as you’re renting one an easy option is to get a hotel with parking around the Fiera di Bologna, a trade show avenue.
You may check the Sydney hotel, to name one. Then if you want to get to the city centre you can get a taxi for 15-20€ and do not have the hassle of parking.
Should you want to drive to the city centre, you can park in the underground parking of Piazza VIII Agosto arriving from Via Irnerio, but pay attention to the cameras! Via Irnerio is not restricted, but its side streets are.
It’s very tricky. It’s designed to send visitors mad and fine them. Most towns are like this here unfortunately.
Another option, if you want the best of the best, every single celebrity always used to sleep at hotel Baglioni in Via Indipendenza. If you want to stay there you can ask them what to do with the car.
All the best, enjoy tour trip.
You can send me a private message if you want to exchange phone numbers for when you are here.
Very last thing, my friend Gilberto Vignali has a very nice showroom for classic cars here in Bologna, in case you want to stop by. In the weekend he’s open just on sat morning.
Ciao,
Nic

 

Thanks for the reply! Yes I subsequently got the overview from my dealer and they informed me I would be taking the 2.5 hr tour. I merely own an old F430 so I guess they don't think I'm worth taking to lunch hahaha. Anyway, I was excited to see the F1 assy and Clenti were included on the short tour I'm on. I can't wait! And I assume the Maranello Ferrari Museum is included for no charge?