Ferrari - Maranello, Italy

Next stop in the car tour of Europe is again Ferrari, but this time in the company's current home - Maranello. This is where Ferrari has been based since 1943. The Ferrari Museum has been set up within walking distance of the factory that produces all the cars.

Compared to Museo Enzo Ferrari, this museum focuses mainly on Ferrari's racing history and model development, with many race cars on display.

As soon as you enter, you are greeted with an acknowledgement to the current Ferrari Formula 1 drivers, as well as support for Michael Schumacher's recovery.

The foyer area also demonstrates the evolution of wind tunnel models...

... as well as some obligatory engine porn.

As you enter the museum, you are presented with notable early race cars, all the way to the Formula 1 models of the modern era.

Next, there's a room of very special concepts and road-going models.

The Ferrari TheFerrari...

The first (and probably only) FXXK that I've seen in real life.

Moving on, we entered a room containing classics...

... as well as the awesome F40 LM.

To throw a spanner in the works, here's Ferrari's oddity - the FF.

The memorabilia was interesting and fascinating too, from steering wheels to under-bodies and diffusers.

Finally, there is a hall of legends that celebrates Ferrari's Formula 1 victories and the drivers that achieved those wins. All the championship winning cars are lined up.

And there's a trophy cabinet with the helmets of Formula 1 champions.

More pictures can be seen here.

We also went on a "tour of the factory and Fiorano test track". The reason I have used quotation marks is because this tour consisted of a bus ride around the grounds of the factory and around the outside of the track, and not actually on the track. This tour was completely unlike other car factory tours where you are guided and shown the manufacturing process. Ferrari are so secretive that the tour was as good as standing outside the factory fence and looking in. In my opinion, this tour is not worth the money. Just enjoy the Ferrari museums.

Ferrari - Modena, Italy

In the motoring world, the small town of Modena in Italy is probably most well known as the birthplace of Ferrari. It is here that Enzo Ferrari first set up Scuderia Ferrari. At the northern part of Modena sits Museo Enzo Ferrari, a museum that celebrates the life of Enzo Ferrari with exhibits of the company's notable road cars.

The museum itself is a fine piece of architecture, with a hangar style interior that does not distract from the cars on display.

Beginning with the Alfa Romeo race cars that are the roots of Ferrari, you are then shown the progression and evolution of the company.

Notable models such as the Testarossa are present.

You also cannot go past the F40 when thinking of iconic Ferraris.

As you move to the modern era, there are the F50 and Enzo.

And finally, we finish with the 458 Italia and hybrid LaFerrari.

Adjacent to the main museum building is the Museum of Engines.

In here, you'll find the engines that powered famous Ferrari models.

A selection of classics and race cars are on display too, including this beautiful Dino and Formula 1 models.

There's also a model of the man himself.

There are too many engines to show in this post, but you can see all of them here.