Maranello Rosso Museum

In 2009 we took a holiday in Umbria, a most charming province with relatively easy access to beautiful countryside as well as some of Italy’s most photogenic towns. On completing some reading, I’d learned of a small museum not far outside San Marino. Aside from giving its name to the Grand Prix, I knew precious little of the principality so we decided to take a trip up there. It is the most remarkable place. Situated high above the surrounding strata with views of the Adriatic to the east, it is a beautiful and surprising place full of charm, despite plenty of tourists.

A few miles outside the city is the little Maranello Rosso museum. Entirely lacking the fanfare of the Ferrari museum in Maranello itself, the place features a remarkable collection of Ferraris, and a separate but even bigger array of Abarths. Sadly no cameras are allowed inside which permits an air of mystique, but it would be nice to have recorded the remarkable cars inside. 250GTO, California and GT SWB all star as well as 312T3 and F40. In total about 25 of the finest machines ever produced. The Abarth collection is the largest in the world, with everything from 695s to 2L Osella sports prototypes. If there is a criticism, it would be that there is precious little information to back up all the cars, but their sheer charisma makes being in their company a pleasure.

This place is a well-kept secret and feels somehow more in-keeping with my own feelings on Ferrari the brand than the slightly glossier museum run by the factory. San Marino is the icing on the cake.

http://www.maranellorosso.com/file/inglese/museo.html