Ferrari: the luxury cars, the Formula One team and Enzo Ferrari, the man behind the marque, celebrated in Modena, Italy

Ferrari, founded in 1929 by Enzo Ferrari, has dominated Formula One for decades with its distinctive red cars, and was arguably the first supercar brand

In the company’s home, Modena in Italy, two museums tell the Ferrari story, one dedicated to its cars’ engineering and design, the other to Ferrari the man

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Visitors to Modena’s Enzo Ferrari Museum view a Ferrari F2003-GA racing car. The museum is one of two in the carmaker’s Italian home city that celebrate the marque’s history and that of its founder, Enzo Ferrari. Photo: Ronan O’Connell

Published: 4:15am, 16 Jan 2024

At Modena’s Enzo Ferrari Museum, I am trying to follow a film on a huge screen explaining the history of one of the world’s most iconic carmakers.

Although the footage of red Ferraris speeding around race tracks is clear enough, the accompanying voice-over is regularly interrupted by exclamations, in a variety of accents and languages, from other visitors, as they fawn over an array of vehicles artfully arranged nearby.

If any more proof were needed, the multilingual hubbub underscores the fact that Ferrari’s fan base is global and fervent. And for these enthusiasts, Modena is the promised land.

Arguably the world’s most famous supercar brand, Ferrari was founded in this northern Italian city in 1929 by Enzo Ferrari.

Modena, in Italy, is the birthplace of Ferrari, and where the Enzo Ferrari Museum and Ferrari Maranello Museum are found. Photo: Ronan O’Connell

About 100km (60 miles) north of the tourist hub of Florence, Modena is more than just the spiritual home of Ferrari; it has two museums dedicated to the marque.