READY STEADY GO!

Motorbike and sports car enthusiasts ought not to miss this full-day excursion from Bologna. Guests will learn all about the triumphs and revolutionary innovations of two of Italy’s best-loved motor companies and experience the excitement of driving a Ferrari.

Meet your private driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride to Maranello. Here, on a private tour led by an official guide from the Ferrari Museum, you will get to know the history behind this famous sports car brand, from its founding in 1947, through the creative and engineering developments of the following decades, to the recent victories of its Formula One racing cars. You will also hear about the life of Ferrari’s creator, the automotive visionary Enzo Ferrari. Born in Modena in 1898, Mr Ferrari devoted his entire life to designing and building sports cars. He discovered his passion for racing at the age of 10, when his father took him to watch a competition at a motor racing circuit in Bologna. Rejected as an employee by FIAT, Enzo Ferrari did not admit defeat and ended up developing his very own racing cars which would become one of the world’s most sought after sports car brands, a symbol of luxury and affluence for generations of drivers. A stubborn, ambitious, successful entrepreneur, Enzo Ferrari is known for his inspiring and provocative statements: “If you can dream it, you can do it”; “No one remembers who took second place and that will never be me”; “Race cars are neither beautiful nor ugly. They become beautiful when they win”.

On display you will see exclusive creations for track and road together with engines, trophies, photographs and memorabilia relating to the motor racing industry. The museum also hosts a Ferrari store selling official merchandise, including clothing for men, women and children, model cars, mugs and caps.

Next, it’s time to slip into the driver’s seat of a Ferrari, buckle your belt and live your long-wished-for Italian dream. After a technical briefing with an instructor, you will have the opportunity to test drive a Ferrari. Enjoy the riveting sensation of driving through the streets of Maranello behind the steering wheel of this iconic, epoch-making motorsport legend. Your instructor will sit next to you on the passenger seat throughout the test drive so as to ensure a safe, smooth experience.

After some free time for lunch head for the Ducati factory. Founded in 1926, Ducati is now well over 90 years old, but, we think you’ll agree, still in tip top shape. Style, sophistication and performance are the three concepts that inspire the activities of this company, famous internationally as a major producer of road and racing motorbikes. Ducati was originally established as a radio communication research company but was forced to leave the business when its plant was destroyed by bombs during World War II. After the conflict, pretty much like FIAT, Ducati perceived the need for an affordable, reliable and efficient means of transport to get post-war Italy moving again and decided to convert to the automotive industry. Cucciolo, the first bike with an engine, was born in 1945 marking the beginning of Ducati’s success story. In the following years the firm expanded, with the help of brilliant engineers, first and foremost of Fabio Taglioni who brought technological innovations and cutting-edge design to the company. By the end of the 1950s Ducati was already a globally-known brand.

Fans of all things fast and furious will gain behind the scenes access to the factory and see how Ducati motorbikes are made. A guided group tour will lead you across the plant, allowing you to follow the production process and assembly phases of road bikes from start to finish. Although the Moto GP racing department is shrouded in secrecy and out of bounds to visitors, the knowledgeable, dedicated Ducati guides will make sure you take away a memorable experience. As you make your way through the factory, you will get to know the key moments in the history of Ducati and catch a glimpse of the workaday bustle of this pioneering company. Once the tour is over, you may independently explore the small but carefully curated museum. This features fifteen road bikes illustrating the development of Ducati’s know-how from 1946 to today, a selection of historic racing bikes, as well as trophies and the suits worn by some of the greatest champions.

Relax on the return ride to your accommodation in Bologna after your magical motoring adventure.