Going to Italy - Need Advice

I went last summer. You want to go to Marranello, that's where the Ferrari factory is located, the test track and the museum. You'll need your Ferrari dealer to set up a tour of the factory for you as it's not open to the public. The museum is open to the public and you can go anytime. Right next to the museum you can rent a Ferrari, any current model, we rented a 458 but they had a 599, California etc. You rent the cars by the 1/2 hour for about $150 Euro. Theres lots to do in Marrenello so plan a whole day.

 

If you are into F1 racing, you can take a ride on a bus around the factory test track, they point out what each turn is modeled after, refering to the track modeled after. Interesting, but the bus doesn't go too fast. While on the tour you drive by Enzo's old on site office/house.

If you are going with a woman you might stop in Verona, the sight of Romeo and Juliet with lots of little gifts to buy, if no woman, skip it.

 

+1

 

While in Maranello, have lunch at Cavallino and dinner at Montana

 

Isn't the Cavallino where all the factory drivers used to dine? Also as Joe mentioned $150 Euro for a half an hour is not bad considering the hallowed grounds and roads you can travel and what do you need for rental approval?? If/when I make it to mecca I'll bring my Simpson karting booties as I know my cowboy boots will not fit properly nor will my straw hat.

 

Cavallino is the tourist trap across the street from the factory, but still a fun place to go. Montana is where the drivers did (and still do based on the pictures hanging on the walls) eat after a day at Fiorano.

 

Thanks.

 

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=197408

 

The above thread is absolutely the best but if you are looking farther afield just try a 'search' on something like 'italy visit' and check out the many threads that should appear (as you're not the first to ask or go)

 

If you go to Marranello and want to rent a FCar all you need is a credit card and valid drivers license. It is awesome!

 

Well, depending on your budget, you can eat at one of the "50 best restaurants in the world," Osteria Francescana in Modena.

 

So I'm under the impression that your use of "semester" means that you're a college student studying abroad? Congrats, it's the best choice you'll ever make!

As for Maranello and Modena:

You can get test drives on Ferraris in Maranello, (and Lamborghinis in neighboring Bologna) but just on the city streets as far as I know. They generally run at pretty high prices (but when has anything Ferrari been affordable )

The Museo Ferrari is awesome; it's only 11 Euros to enter I believe if you're a student, and has some Ferraris I think you will only see there, or at a show like Pebble Beach.

There are areas you can view Fiorano Test Circuit at, and they are easily found if you just wander. And hopefully there is some action while you're there. I was lucky enough to witness about 6 458 Italias circling!

Also, you can only get the exclusive factory tour if you are a Ferrari owner. I tried to work this as well this past summer by talking to my local Ferrari dealer, and was informed as such. It's worth it to see Maranello and Modena though without this tour, so don't let it hold you back. If I've been misinformed and you're an owner--then call your closest dealer up pronto!

When you get to Modena, you'll need to catch a bus that takes you to Maranello. From the train station, it's about a 1/2 mile- 1 mile away and easily reached by walking. If you want, I'll send you a link with a map and directions on it. But you'll find when you're there it's just a straight shot. Busses leave every hour on the hour, and are easily marked "Maranello". I found that Italian public transport was very easily navigated. Just be patient

When you take the train into Modena, enjoy every second of it! I too was on a study abroad this past summer and we stopped in Italy. I made the journey from Civitavecchia (Rome's port city) all the way north to Modena and Maranello and had a great experience doing so. If I hadn't been so focused on getting to Modena, I would have loved to stop in towns like La Spezia, Parma, Pisa, etc. Modena and Maranello are great places to see, but then again, so is all of Italy! I think you can find something great at every stop along the way. Enjoy, and good luck!


Alex

 

Is a credit card a necessity as I do not use them anymore simply for the fact that if I cannot afford to pay cash I do not purchase, I could always get another one though if I must. Heck I would probably try to go with an Fcar owner anyway so I can tour the factory.

 

Couple of other museums:
- Alfa Romeo in Arese - its free (or it was a few years ago)
- the Turin Museum - recently refurbished

And yes, driving a ferrari for an hour (worth the Euro 500 for a 458). And don't forget, if you get caught at outragous speed (like I did), you will lose your license (I hope the police have some compassion). HaHaHa.

 

If you are going to go touring for the sake of Ferrari, you are missing 99.999999999879738939% of the country.

Ferrari accounts for nary a budge on the experience meter of what Italy has to offer.





DON'T MISS the IMPORTANT Stuff. And Ferrari ain't it.



Sorry guys.

 

You can rent Ferrari's in Maranello here:
http://www.pushstart.it/

It's next to the Galleria Ferrari on the parking. You can't miss it!

 

I agree.
If you are going to spend an entire semester in Italy I suppose a day in Maranello would be worth it, but other than having my picture taken by the old factory gates I didn't find it all that interesting.
I didn't bother with the museum because I go to Monterey every year and have seen all those same types of cars many times anyway.
I am an owner but the only day I could have had a tour didn't agree with my schedule, so I didn't go on one.

I love Italy, but I doubt I'll ever go back to Maranello. Go to Rome and Venice for sure, but unless you're an art enthusiast I think Florence is overrated (and hot as hell in the summer). Go to a hill town such as San Gimignano.

 

i lived there for a few years and go back 3-4 times per year, and still havent seen it all.
maranello is fun, and the guys have covered most of the stuff.
but there is a lot to see....so read up...figure out what you really want to hit, THEN ask us again about specifics.

 

Ditto the car hire.. there are 3 hire venues same street as Pushstart and I sampled all 3 and drove: 288 GTS Turbo, 430, California, 458, 599.

Arrive and drive, esp in off peak season.. everything possible from just 10 minutes to hours.. they go with you in passenger seat, that's why costs way less than typical on-your-own hire.

If you just want to try everything and modest budget by all means do short stint in all that's on offer but be aware that means back streets and precious little chance do more than blip up couple gears or dawdle behind other traffic.

If you take hour or hour and half (recommended) then you can get up into the surrounding hills and feel much more like you're really experiencing the beginnings of a proper drive.

If you're not a total idiot and see you will bring the car (and them) back in one piece they will encourage you to ever increasingly "go for it" and know where the hidey holes are for police radar.

 

Go to Rome, walk for a week. No agenda, no check list of places to see (you'll stumble across them), no hurry. Follow the locals (easy to tell apart from the tourists) at meal time, eat where they eat. Grab a coffee when you feel like having one. Trust me on this, you'll have the time of your life.

 

ditto that: spent 5 days on foot in Rome.. just walked all kinds of places.. great way to see the city and you can reach all the major landmarks easily.. had cappuccino at every place high end and to low to sample it all.

I recommend "Roma Pass" good value and gets you into express lane to vault pass queues at major sights such as Colosseum and save ton of time.. (I went off season so even better all round cafe stops too)..

Only bummer was Vatican/Sistine Chapel queue didn't have pass system.. that was long on weekend even in miserable weather.. I went everywhere except inside here.. try a weekday instead.

 

I was in San Gimignano in 2008.....it was absolutely gorgeous. A few days driving around the Tuscan countryside was a good idea.

Visiting San Gimignano, San Galgano, and many other medieval villages on Toscana's hillside is a breathtaking experience...highly recomended for their hospitality, food, and of course the spectacular views.

 

When I was going to Italy more frequently, I came close to purchasing a house in Figline Valdarno. If you go to Tuscany, find out when the street fairs in the small towns are, I was there one weekend during an agricultural festival and the food was unbelievably good.