Text by Peter Darnall and Museum Curator Lorenzo Montagner
Museum photos by Gian Maria Pontiroli
Museum Curator Lorenzo Montagner has previously written a short biography of Tazio Nuvolari. This week Mr. Montagner and Peter Darnall take us inside the fascinating museum that houses Nuvolari’s treasures.
Museo Tazio Nuvolari is located in Mantua, Italy, a few miles from Castel d’Ario, where Nuvolari was born on November 16, 1892. The Nuvolari Museum is housed in an historic fifteenth century building, which served originally as the Church of the Carmelino. One visitor to the museum commented that the unique setting seemed to enhance the sense of intimacy; in his words, the museum was “much more than a collection of trophies.”
Tazio Nuvolari is one of a select few race drivers who have museums devoted solely to the celebration of their achievements. He was known as “Il Mantovano Volante” (the Flying Mantuan) or simply “Nivola” by his fans. His victories—72 major events, something over 150 competitions in all—were upstaged by the outbreak of the Second World War. Nuvolari continued to drive after the War, but advancing age and deteriorating health were taking a heavy toll. The fiery Italian survived his racing days to die of natural causes on August 11, 1953.
Ferdinand Porsche described Tazio Nuvolari as “…the greatest driver of the past, the present and the future.” Doctor Porsche knew the all the drivers who raced in the Golden Age of Grand Prix, the decade of the 1930s; in his opinion, Nuvolari was the best of them all.
Fred Russell is the curator of Jon Shirley’s automotive collection. Fred is an acknowledged expert on Italian cars, especially Alfa Romeos. He is also a self-proclaimed admirer of Tazio Nuvolari. Fred recalled his visit to the Nuvolari Museum as an unexpected pleasure. He was aware of Nuvolari’s colorful exploits and had even driven race cars which Nuvolari had campaigned. “There’s something about the building–it’s a former church—and the ambience of Mantua which impressed me. Here was the real Nuvolari,” he enthused. He summed up his visit as “truly memorable” and added that this museum is a must-see for anyone interested in motor racing history and a “near religious experience for any Nuvolari fan.”
About the Museum
The museum is open every day of the week, with the exception of Monday: Saturday and Sunday can be visited from 1pm to 6pm, and from Tuesday to Friday from 3pm to 6pm. The Museum is visited every year by 10,000 visitors from all over Europe, particularly in September when the Grand Prix Nuvolari, dedicated to historic cars, starts from Mantua: it is a very important event that brings together over 300 cars from all over the world from Europe to Latin America, from Japan to the United States of America.
There are many activities organized in the museum, from book presentations and photographic exhibitions to educational activities specifically designed for children. Road education courses for children are also part of the activities.
Images that tell the life of Tazio Nuvolari, as well as his personal items, the trophies and medals won on all the European and American tracks decorate the museum.
Among the most precious trophies are the Mille Miglia Cup of 1930, the Adolf Hitler Cup won by Nuvolari on the Nurburgring circuit in 1935 and the small-scale copy of the Vanderbilt Cup won at the Roosevelt Field circuit in New York in October 1936. There are many cars related to the career of Nuvolari that are on display during the year: in the coming months we expect the arrival of a splendid 1930 Alfa Romeo 1750 GS Zagato.
Staff and support
The Museum is financed by tickets sold to visitors, merchandising activities, and thanks to the generosity of sponsors. But the museum also needs staff with a great passion: Lorenzo Montagner is the curator and head of the Tazio Nuvolari Museum who also creates new ideas to make the visitor’s journey through the Museum more enjoyable. Mr. Matteo Rinaldi takes care of the ticket office, the secretariat and the administration and Mr. Franco Mondadori is the technical manager.
The Tazio Nuvolari Museum is owned by the Automobile Club of Mantova which is fundamental to the efficiency of the Museum, as are the roles of the Director Dr. Giuseppe Pottocar and of the President Dr. Giancarlo Pascal, and Mrs. Silvia Bellini, secretary of presidency of the Automobile Club Mantova. Their work is fundamental because thanks to their expertise, they help the Museum staff in the planning of international events for the promotion of Tazio Nuvolari and his Museum throughout the world. Studies are being made about the feasibility of bringing a Nuvolari Exhibition to the most important circuits and cities of the world; one of these could be organized in New York.
New Activities
In recent months the Museum has signed agreements and completed very important activities: a educational section was created to tell the story of Tazio Nuvolari to school children; a new website will be created and the social media channel will be enhanced. A collaboration agreement was signed with the Vittoriale degli Italiani (one of the most important Italian museums in the past the home of the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio.) Soon, a collaboration will be signed with Università Politecnico of Milan for the creation of a new museum itinerary based on innovative technologies, and thanks to the Municipality of Mantua, the patrimony of letters, documents and photographs belonging to Nuvolari will be restored and digitized.
Nuvolari’s Photography
Personal objects from Tazio’s studio. Among his favorite objects, the camera with which he took wonderful images that have become an exhibition and a book entitled “When Nuvolari Shoots”.
Tazio possessed a real talent for photography and strengthened his passion after the death of his first son Giorgio in the days before the Vanderbilt Cup edition 1937. After the death of Giorgio, Tazio became more taciturn and thoughtful, letting the photographs tell the story his state of mind. It is evident from his photographs, of over 2,500 images how great is his ability, in seeking a light that could highlight a detail of a face. Here is has taken a photo of his son Alberto. Photo courtesy of the Archive Tazio Nuvolari Museum
But Tazio has also been able to tell the world of racing by taking photographs even to his rivals. Another photograph taken by Nuvolari shows Nuvolari’s friend and rival of the Auto Union team, Bernd Rosemeyer, who during a test before a Grand Prix slips into the cockpit of Tazio’s Alfa Romeo. Photo courtesy of the Archive Tazio Nuvolari Museum
Trophies
Motorcycle section: Nuvolari’s helmet with Bianchi logo and the Circuito del Lario Trophy. The legend of Tazio begins with the first motorcycle race in the summer of 1920.
Trophies: the copy of the Vanderbilt Cup won by Nuvolari with Alfa Romeo in October 1936. The original Cup is now kept in the Nicolis Museum in Villafranca (Verona) near Tazio Nuvolari Museum.
In the medal collection are dozens of medals and honors received by Tazio Nuvolari from all over the world..
Cars and related objects
The display that tells the magnificent days of the victory at the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup in New York.
The steering wheel of the Ferrari 166 SC used by Nuvolari during Mille Miglia of 1948. This steering wheel was donated by Enzo Ferrari to ACI Mantova in 1982. The Ferrari scarf tied to the steering wheel is a very high honor awarded to a select few by Enzo Ferrari.
Hood from the 166 SC Ferrari lost in the 1948 Mille Miglia.
One of the Museum’s cars: this Fiat 1400 was the last car owned by Tazio Nuvolari.
There are many photos of Nuvolari’s racing history. This is at Barcelona 1936, Tazio and the Alfa Romeo 12C-36. The link between Nuvolari and Scuderia Ferrari’s Alfa Romeo was very strong, a “marriage” that was interrupted when Tazio moved to Auto Union.
General
In Room 1, a model of the Auto Union Nuvolari would drive, among many photos and artifacts.
A view of the Tazio Nuvolari Museum: not only trophies, medals and cars but also a large collection of clothes used by Tazio during the races.
The Nuvolari museum is visited by 10,000 visitors a year coming from all over Europe, but also from Japan, United States and Latin America.
The entrance to the Tazio Nuvolari Museum. Until about ten years ago it held the archive of the Municipality of Mantua.
Great, on my bucket list for next year! Thanks. Jaime I
Time to do a story on the Grand Prize Nuvolari as mentioned. Put that on your bucket list. Sounds like the Mille Miglia Retro of the mid 1980’s, not today’s avarice event.
I have visited the Museo Tazio Nuvolari a few times, both at the old and new location, and can honestly say it is one of my favorites. You truly walk out of it feeling an almost personal knowledge of the man. I also highly recommend visiting Nuvolari’s former homes on the Viale delle Rimembranze in Mantova, Castel d’Ario, and Ronchesana. Finally, the book Quando Scatta Nuvolari is a real treasure. Tazio’s photos are achingly beautiful. Dare I say his talents as a photographer rival those as a driver?
we went to mantova to run the ‘circuito di te’ last summer only to find it was cancelled. we drove past the museum 3 times but squinting out of our ’55 t-bird we couldn’t look up high enough to read the sign. I went to the original museum a long time ago; now I’ve taken my wife through mantova 3 times–and the original museum was closed during ‘Nuvolari week’! some day she’ll see it, I promise! also, everybody should see the Nicolis museum. sig. Nicolas was a truly lovely man
What a fine article. I had no idea he was a photographer. His talent is evident in the examples of his portraits. He really does capture the essence of the person in these two works. A rare talent indeed.
His photography is as special as his driving
Exceptional clarity and tonality for small format 1930s film
Next trip to motor valley! I missed this on last year.