Last week Jonathan Sharp wrote a report on the Maserati 100th anniversary celebration at the Enzo Ferari Museum. But he didn’t forget about the Ferraris, engines, and Alfas also on display, many in the new engine room–plus a replica of Enzo Ferrari’s office. We saved that part of the story for this week.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp Clic on pics to enlarge
Nestling, as if being protected, in the curve of the new display hall is the original workshop of Enzo Ferrari’s father Alfredo. A long and narrow building lit by many large arched shaped windows. The building was built during the latter half of the 19th century and would not have benefited from electric lighting hence the many windows. At the far end of the hall, roughly where the “Enzo” is now displayed, was, along with the machine tools that Alfredo used to shape metal, a stable which housed the horses used to draw the sulkies (2 wheeled trotting rig) and carts of the time.
Alfredo was one of the first residents in Modena to own a motor car, a De Dion Bouton. During the building’s restoration it was decided, in order to allow the workshop to retain the look and feel of the early days, to leave the windows uncovered. It is these that most contribute to the natural lighting of the artefacts on display. It is the shapes and colors of these which evolve as the light changes throughout the day. The cars on display encapsulate the life of Enzo from the cars he raced and created for Alfa Romeo through to the Enzo which was built as a tribute by Luca Di Montezemolo.
The Maserati display featured last week runs until January 2015. Getting there was very easy. My wife and I flew to Bologna then took the quick and very frequent train service to Modena. If you decide to visit and you do not fancy staying in a main stream hotel may we suggest B&B Quartopiano where Alessandro and Antonio made us more than welcome. The view over the roof tops of the town was beautiful and the food in their restaurant was divine. Grazie Mille
Dave Cummins says
This is as near to being in church as you can get without actually going to church! Bravo and avanti! Dave Cummins
antonio lobo says
Fantastico