Visiting Maranello.

[XRtowcar]

Thought i'd let the forum members in on a little trip that i had to Italy in September.
As i know this is a FORD forum and not an Italian Supercar forum, lets just say it was research as a comparison against the Blue oval product, (or why did Ford want to buy Ferrari?).
Anyways the day after a visit to Monza and the Italian Grand Prix, the missus and i planned the trip from Milan to Maranello for a visit to see the Ferrari Galleria, Ferrari factory and lunch at Il Cavallino restaurant.
The day started at 7.35 at central station with our Frecciabianca ready for the trip.
Caught the train to Modena, where i had organised a chaffeured car form Blu Auto Sevice to pick us and take us to Maranello.
If you happen to make the trip this was the easiest way to get there as its about twenty minutes in the car with a taxi costing 25euros each way.
This was 80euro but the car was waiting for us at both ends at the times we specified.
Or the bus is an option too. GL.
Got dropped at the Ferrari galleria for two hours of Ferrari heaven.

Too many highlight cars to mention.
See pics.










Theyre's also a special dedicated to Formula 1 Ferrari's.


And Enzo's office as well.

Having booked tickets on the Ferrari site on the net, we took the option of a drive to the factory though the plant.

This was a week before deliveries of the FF were to start and a week after the F458 Spider was released.
Managed to see both cars in the plant but no cameras were allowed. They put Ferraris stickers over your phone cameras too.
Amazing to see the plant as this tour had only started running since July.
Next was to be a lap of the Fiorano test track but they were conducting F3 testing and we only got as far as the pits.
Got dropped back at the Galleria, and walked the 500m back to gates of the plant.

The Il Cavallino restaurant is directly across the road from the factory and was supposed to be Enzo's usual lunch spot.

Luckily we had a booking as the placed was packed with people who had been to F1's the day before.
Good food and a bit of motorsport memorabilia.



After luch was a visit to the Ferrari shop in Maranello.

You can also hire a car for a quarter hour for approx 120euro.



Unfortunately run out of time as the restaurant was busy and took two hours to serve us lunch.
Car was booked for a 4.00pm return to Modena and 4.40 for the train back to Milan.
Awesome day and recommend anyone who wants to visit that they make the trip.
Still they're not Fords though.

[Pedro]

Well constructed and interesting thread. Thanks for taking the time and effort.

Not trying to hijack your thread but I know you'll appreciate the pics .....

Here's a Superamerica belonging to a mate. We swapped cars and I drove it around for half an hour.

[Jim Goose]

oh oh OH..... er... brb

[FPVGT500]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

oh oh OH..... er... brb

Feeling wet mate? Dont blame you

[mik]

very nice, thanks for sharing.

[Bossxr8]

I can't believe they rent out Ferraris, thats awesome.

[74-351-XB]

Brings back memories. A couple of years ago I went there as well and it's a great day. Did you end up getting to any of the other factories close by? When I was over there we did a tour that started at Ferrari then Lamborghini, Pagani, and Ducati to finish it off. It was amazing how close these places are to each other and how you can fit it all in in one day. Filled two memory cards worth of photos that day :P

[DBourne]

Awesome stuff mate.
I'd love to do a trip like that, plus one to see porsche etc, but knowing my organisational skills I'd just balls it up.

[Poetic Justice]

My mate (26) just did the same thing. Drove a 458 Italia for about 15 minutes and a 599 for half an hour.

[Grunter]

Great photos and story. Thanks!

Some amasing cars and it's great how you can walk right up to and around the cars for the most part.

[XRtowcar]

Its great there's no barriers as it lets you get better photos.
One Italian guy had his family with him and decided to put his five year old in Alain Prosts F1 car. There was a lot of hand waiving and getures by the museum attendant as he rushed over to remove junior from the car.
Other than that everyone respected the displays.
Wanted to do some of the other factories as well but you would need two or three days to get a decent look around. An English guy on the Factory bus tour had been to Lamborghini earlier in the day and said he was allowed onto the production line floor while they were building the cars.
Think Motorstars run factory tours around Ducati, Lambo, Maserati etc
They were booked out the day we wanted to visit.