Going to Maranello - suggestions?

Covered in my latest magazine with a 20 page spread!

We stay in Bologna when we go to Maranello. Our usual loop of Italy includes Lake Como and Portofino so can't help you with Milan and Florence.
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I am on my way in Feb for my spec of my 488GTB. Going for 21 days. Rome, Florence, Bologna, Modena France. Will let you know when I get back what was the coolest. Congrats.

 

We have been to the factory. While there we stayed in Modena. We previously visited Bologna and enjoyed Modena more. Different kind of cities. Modena smaller and more intimate. Bologna being a university town has more graffiti. But, more sites and shopping as well. Use Fodor's, Trip Advisor, etc. to see which holds more allure for you. Florence and Lake Como done as well. Como done as part of Modena/Maranello vacation/experience. Florence was a separate vacation as well. In March, Como not a warm place to be so likely nearly deserted. Many places still closed that time of year IF my memory correct.
In Modena, the Enzo museum was fun. Even for my wife. If you want to be car crazy, Lambo and Maserati factories apparently put on a good show as well. Appointments needed, of course.
In Milan the 2 big sites are The Cathedral/Duomo and seeing Leonardo's "The Last Supper". Tickets for later mandatory. The Castello Sforzesco (castle) in the heart of Milan is an interesting site as well. One day in Milan is all you need.
Como without traffic is under an hour away. Again, it will be chilly so other than appreciating the Alps, not sure what you will get out of it. Plus, lake fish sucks in my opinion. Better food in other parts of Italy.
Across the street from the factory is the restaurant Cavallino. You must go there. One of the best meals I have ever had in Italy. Not to mention a very cool place.
Balsamic vinegar tours are also fun for foodies.
Glad to answer any other questions - if I can!
Just PM me.
Best,
Randy

 

when I visited to spec my Speciale I stayed in Milano and used a service to drive to/from Maranelo. We had lunch at Montana which is another must go to restaurant.. best meal I had on the trip. Do the factory trip in the morning and get the last appointment in the day to spec your car so you are not rushed. Ask for Anna, she is the best.be sure to stop by the engine assembly area so you can ask the techs for yourself about how the break in the engine on the bench, test your car on the track and don't require any break-in period when you take delivery or require an oil change for the first 12.000 miles because of all this.

most of all.. love every single minute of it... you are one of the very few people on earth that get to spec your Ferrari at the factory, walk the production line and own the best car ever made...

Feel free to PM me.. enjoy and cherish it.

 

Great food, Italy and Ferrari. What could be better ? Congrats and enjoy !

 

As others have said, Montana is great. No menu, just eat what they want to make and it will be delicious.

If you are going to Florence (it is FABULOUS) then a couple of tips: if you want to stay in town then the St. Regis is well located (near but not too near to the hordes) and looks to be a great hotel. If you want out of town, there is a Belmond hotel in the hills overlooking the city. A friend of mine makes a regular 'pilgrimage' there and says it is an absolute must. He knows what's what too.

If you like interesting culture, search out a tour of the secret passage that goes over the old bridge from the Uffizzi museum to the other side of the Arno river. I forget what it's called but you have to arrange it specially and it is very worthwhile. And don't forget the statue of David. Get someone to explain its history to you too. Even if you're not a typical history tourist, get your Nikes on and....just do it!

 

Another city (strangely) not mentioned yet:

Siena.

To ME, it was even BETTER than Florence.

The latter is strong on cultural aspects, but
in terms of inner city karma, Siena is top.

Especially the wonderful open space in the
center - just spectacular. Nice churches as
well if You're into that kind of thing.

BTW, Pisa left me standing a bit awkward.
Apart from the tower, it didn't touch me.

Check out the ice they're doing all over the
north of Italy - it's just great.

Cheers,
Ulli

 

Lake Como is definitely a must and a stop to Bellagio, such a nice small village on the lake but I agree that March may be a bit cold.

Enjoy. Best Tagliatelle Bolognaise I have ever eaten in Bologna at Diana, a small but very charming restaurant. If you are into wine, lot of amazing bottles at 10 Euros that I have found back home at $200 +.

Wishing you an amazing trip.

 

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Four Seasons hotel is my favourite in Florence and the secret passage you refer to is called the Vasari Corridor and is full of lots of pictures from the middle ages to reasonably recent. The Medicis used the corridor to travel between their palaces and also has points where they could listen to what the people on the streets were saying below. Can't remember how I organized the visit but may have been through the hotel.

In terms of Milan, if you like design, it's a great city so if you like that - stay more than a day. For restaurants - up market and great food but not stuffy Aimo E Nadia although it's not central. For cheap and cheerful just off Monte Napoleone try Paper Moon. It's on a little street pretty much behind Georgio Armani. Used to stay at the Four Seasons there but the restaurant is poor and they're a little full of themselves so now stay at the Baglioni which, is a little old style but I've always had good rooms there. For wives in particular, it has a private entrance to Della Spiga. Another good place to eat is at Dolce & Gabanna at the top of Della Spiga - this has a covered courtyard which, isn't a bad place for a friendly, trendy lunch or evening drink before moving on.

Modena has so so hotels but a couple of good restaurants. You can try Osteria Francescana which, is very good but you need to book well in advance as I think it's ranked number 5 in the world - I've eaten there a couple of times and always had good food and wine. Last trip we based ourselves in Modena, specced the car and then took trains to Ferrara and Bologna which, is cheap, easy and no worries about parking.

Maranello - I thought Montana was great and Cavallino forgettable but I note elsewhere that others like Cavallino - so maybe I got them on a bad day. For Balsamic I go to Leonardi in Formagine (?) which, is nearby - been going there for a few years now. They were recommended to me by the chef at Montana.

Any other specific questions am happy to answer here or by PM

 

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Completely agree. Siena and nearby San Gimignano are really cool places. We loved both of them.
My biggest recommendation is not try and do too much. You will end up running around and not soaking in the fantastic experiences that can be had by being at only one or two of the above places.
Are you flying back out of Milan or leaving from Rome?
I ask as you may want to just work your way south from Milan to Florence vs Modena vs Bologna and do all your day trips from just one of them.
My wife hates the packing and unpacking and checking into new hotels. Wastes time as well.
Many people rent cars. We love the trains and splurge on a guide or driver. No wasted time and ZERO stress.
When on vacation in Italy, I just want to relax and not sweat the details. PLUS, I want to enjoy what I see, not look for road signs!!
Best

 

The last we went (with my wife) in July to spec my 488 GTB, we spent a couple of days at Lake Garda - the The Grand Hotel Gardone and the night before stopped at the Opera O2 Hotel. Superb views and awesome restaurant and wine! They also ferment their own Balsamic Vinegar and have a micro-brewery.
Only 10 minute drive from the factory - lovely!
Graham