Ferrari Museum – Take the kids! Tips!
A dream trip need to have something for everyone so our last Italian adventure found us at the Ferrari museum in Modena, Italy. Hubby and son both are car lovers. For those of us who aren’t as enthusiastic about cars, a little background information made the trip really enjoyable.
Ferrari Museum – Take the kids! – logistics
We found Modena an easy day trip from Bologna where we stayed in an apartment. We hired a car to make the trip which made it easy! You can also take the train. Write ahead for information on booking a taxi from the airport.
Buy tickets online for the sightseeing tour that suits your group the best.
Ferrari Museum – Take the kids! – Enjoyable for everyone.
I hadn’t considered myself that much of a car person but wow – these cars are like art! Gorgeous!! Even a ‘non car’ person can enjoy the beauty.
Ferrari Museum – Take the kids! – Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari was an Italian race car driver and entrepreneur. He founded both the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team and Ferrari car manufacturer.
He grew up with little formal education in Modena, Italy. During WW1, his father and brother both died of flu. When Enzo was discharged after becoming severely ill during the 1918 flu pandemic he was discharged from the army and returned home to find the family business in ruins. So, he took a job a small car company redesigning truck bodies into passenger cars. In 1920 he joined Alpha Romeo and began racing their cars.
Ferrari Museum – Take the Kids! Ferrari Emblem
The prancing horse emblem was taken from the fuselage of Italy’s WW1 leading fighter pilot, Francesco Baracca after his mysterious death. Enzo met with Francesco’s parents after a race and they suggested the use of the prancing horse for good luck and as a homage to the war hero. The yellow background was added because it is the official color of Ferarri’s hometown, Modena. The horse’s tail was changed to curve upwards, and is now called ‘Cavallino Rampante’ being first displayed on a race car in 1932.
Ferrari Museum – Take the kids! The story of the Ferrari and the Lamborghini
Ferrucio Lamborghini’s tractor business was booming. Like some wealthy people he decided the best way to celebrate his success was to buy himself a Ferrari! But, he was so disappointed with it so he went to meet with Enzo at his factory. Lamborghini wanted to complain about the clutch in his Ferrari 250GT and give his thoughts on how to improve it. Enzo sent him away telling him to go and drive tractors since he didn’t know how to drive cars.
Not deterred, Lamborghini had his clutch dismantled and realized that the manufacturer of the Ferrari clutch was also the manufacturer of the clutches for his tractors. So, Lamborghini found a spare part in his warehouse that solved the problem. After that, Lamborghini was a dissatisfied Ferrari client and aimed to beat Ferrari at his own game. He started by hiring someone that had previously worked on Enzo’s development team…. and the rest….is Ferrari and Lamborghini car history.
Ferrari Museum – Take the Kids! Legend of the logos
Legend has it that Lamborghini copied the Ferrari shield, then reversed the company’s black and yellow color scheme. The bull stands for Lamborghini’s astrological sign. What do you think?
Ferrari logo photo from Ferrari.com and Lamborghini logo photo from Lamborghini.com
Ferrari Museum – Take the Kids! Fun exhibits
In addition to the fantastic exhibits of cars you can listen to Ferrari cars race! This was really interesting. You can choose the sounds – straight aways, tight turns… and each sounds very different. The kids especially enjoyed this part.
Include a little bit of everything in your dream trip! You never know what you’ll learn!
Ferrari Museum – Take the Kids! Get thinking before the trip!
Enjoy coloring these cars while thinking about your upcoming museum visit! Color with the kids and share a quiet time to talk.
What’s not to love about Ferrari red? Buy this at home for $10 and wear it to the factory or buy it there for a crazy amount. Everything there was insanely expensive. This shirt would be at least $50 at the factory.
Read more about our Italian travels:
Happy travels,
Natalie, The Educational Tourist
Take me too!! I didn’t know Ferrari’s first name was Enzo! That’s an interesting history about the emblem, I didn’t know that either. I don’t think Lamborghini copied the logo, they could have been inspired, thanks for educating me about Enzo and the logo!
Aaaah Ferrari – the name of a legend! For me personally Ferrari built some of the most amazing cars of all time and I can imagine to visit this museum and see these timeless beauties with own eye must be truly a unique and special experience. The story of Ferrari and Lamborghini is legendary as well. This trip must have been a great fun for the kids as well.
My husband would love this Ferrari museum so much, it reminds me of the one in Stuttgart. I am not going to tell him though that you can do a practice racetrack… I would not get him out of the place. I am definitely adding this to my list when I go to Modena, Italy.
Looks like a really fun day trip for the kids. I can almost hear them laughing at the different car sounds and trying to pick out what race car it is. Certainly a fun day trip for the family
Loved hearing about the feud between Ferrari and Lamborghini. I guess you have to be careful about who you tell – go plow a field. They might have a clutch improvement which is no bull.
No doubt!! You never know for sure!
OMG my hubby would love this. I on the other hand would be looking for a boutique nearby to while away the time. Totally agree with hiring a car to make things easy with kids in tow.
I don’t have kids yet, but I bet my husband would enjoy this! Thanks for the background on Ferrari – I hope someday I’m in a trivia contest and the question is “what is Ferrari’s first name” hehe! The cars sure are beautiful!
And you will have heard it here first! LOL!
My husband would definitely love this. The museum sounds absolutely wonderful. What a great find!!
Ferrari and Lamborghini are such big names of pure 4-wheeled luxury! The museum looks like a great time for my husband who loves cars and would get so much out of learning about the history. Something to think about on our next trip to Italy!
I will be honest, I want to visit Bologna because of its famous dish but this museum does look pretty fun. I am not fussed about cars and makes of cars but would like to visit!
Great article. I’ll be visiting Bologna in few weeks and will be sure to browse the Ferrari museum in Modena. Get to learn about the Ferrari and Lamborghini’s story, quite interesting background.
I have to admit that I giggled out loud at the thought of my kids in a Ferrari Museum. I can only imagine finger prints and attempts at climbing the cars like a jungle gym! But, they are only 2 and 4. And I know that they are far more capable of traveling than most parents give them credit for. I am so glad that you don’t leave your kids behind and allow them to appreciate whatever it is that comes into your itinerary. The artistry in the cars is amazing and can certainly be appreciated by all!
Well, a few more years might be the best age for the Ferrari museum for yours! It is fun to travel with the kiddos!
Oh, this museum sounds amazing. I have a nephew who is such a big fan of cars and Ferrari! He would love this. Thanks for the tip, I’ll make a note of it when in Modena soon!
wow…that was such great information…I didn’t knew about how the brand evolved…so detailed info about the logo…it truly was a educational tour through your post
Awesome post. This looks so fun, I would like to experience this
What a pain! Still a better bet than waiting at the door. We were disappointed in that we couldn’t see the factory, but the museum was wonderful and so was the ride on the practice racetrack. Hope it was worth the wait!