It was Roberto’s son Carlo who conceived the initial collection: the “steam vehicle”, by Virginio Bordino (1854), the first Benz model (1893), the first Peugeot model to circulate in Italy, the Pecori, the first three-wheeled car built in our country, just to mention a few of the most valuable exhibits.
The futuristic refurb, completed in 2011, has helped to reposition the museum within the Italian cultural sector: the new exhibition - included in 2013 by The Times in its list of the top 50 in the world - extends over three floors and takes visitors on an emotional journey among vintage vehicles and dream cars, important prototypes and iconic models, while songs from the Sixties and the rumble of Formula One engines can be heard in the background.
Reservation not mandatory.
It is possible to download a free audio guide. Buy online.
Design
From the steam-powered carriages of the late 19th century to the design masterpieces of the 1950s, from the cars that played leading roles in epic races and memorable journeys to the prototypes that shaped the future of research, the exhibition traces the continuous evolution of the automobile, recounting the great passion that drove manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and drivers to focus on the means of transport that symbolised the 20th century.
In 2011, the building (originally constructed in 1960 based on a design by Amedeo Albertini) was restored by Cino Zucchi Architetti. The interior design was handled by Swiss architect François Confino, who had previously designed the Cinema Museum in the Mole Antonelliana. Confino organises the collection into three major thematic sections: the 20th century, culture and society, and design. Additionally, the space includes areas for temporary exhibitions, a documentation centre, and a conservation and restoration centre