THE MOTOR LAB

An Italian valley has always been home to the world's most iconic sports cars. A district of excellence that combines style, craftsmanship, and innovation. But today, the challenge is different: adapting to a changing future and rethinking the concept of speed

EUROPE | ITALY | SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | ECONOMY

Modena (Italy), a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO at the Enzo Ferrari Museum, inaugurated in 2012 and designed by architect Jan Kaplicky, who drew inspiration from a car hood when designing the building. The museum is located where Enzo Ferrari, born in 1898, lived as a child with his parents and brother Enzo.

The most beautiful cars in the world? They’re made in Italy, along an ancient Roman road called the Via Emilia — a flat, misty land where legendary luxury brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ducati, and Pagani were born. It’s known as the “Motor Valley,” the beating heart of global automotive design: a manufacturing district at the center of Europe where style meets industry, technological innovation merges with artisanal excellence. Here, after World War II, a passion for speed met a love of risk and the craftsmanship of coachbuilders — heirs to the medieval metalworkers who once forged armor by hand. In this land, farmers’ tractor races turned into epic duels between cars with perfect lines, surrounded by black smoke and the scent of gasoline.

“Here in Emilia, talent, technical expertise, business mindset, and investment capital all come together,” explains Giampaolo Dallara. “It’s a unique valley, devoted to speed and beauty. But the real secret is to keep questioning ourselves, to adapt to change, and to keep investing in innovation and education.” The challenge is complex: not to remain a symbol of the past, but to become a laboratory for the future. Today, brilliant minds from all over the world study at MUNER — the Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna — while the Motor Valley Accelerator funds dozens of startups working on lighter batteries, artificial intelligence, safety systems, and 3D printing. Along the Via Emilia, the entire industrial ecosystem is reinventing itself through energy transition, sustainable mobility, and technological innovation — to rethink, from the ground up, the very concept of speed.

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Varano de' Melegari (Parma, Italy), nestled in the foothills of the Apennines along the Ceno River, is home to the spectacular Dallara headquarters, designed by architect Alfonso Femia. Engineer Giampaolo Dallara, born in 1936, worked at Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and De Tomaso before opening his own company in his hometown in 1972, which is now also involved in the aerospace sector.

Bastiglia (Modena, Italy), restorers work on the bodywork of an old Ferrari 275 GTB LM Competizione in the Bacchelli & Villa workshop. Founded in 1972, the company is one of the world's leading classic car restoration workshops, specializing in Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati bodywork.

Maranello (Italy), tourists take photos under a huge yellow flag bearing the Ferrari symbol, a prancing horse, during the “Notte Rossa” (Red Night), a festival dedicated to Ferrari. The symbol was given to Ferrari by the mother of the famous Italian aviator Francesco Baracca, who died during World War I, and adopted by Enzo as the emblem of his company.

Varano de' Melegari (Parma, Italy), Dallara technicians prepare a carbon fiber chassis before it enters the autoclave. Engineer Giampaolo Dallara, born in 1936, worked at Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and De Tomaso before opening his own company in his hometown in 1972, which now also operates in the aerospace sector.

Modena (Italy), children ready to start a pedal car race during Motor Valley Fest, a series of events celebrating Italy's motor racing heartland, Emilia Romagna, home to legendary brands, iconic circuits, racing teams, private collections, museums, and training institutes.

Pezzolo di Russi (Ravenna, Italy), a tractor pulling competition during the “Festa de Mutor” (tractor festival). Motor Valley originated in the Emilia Romagna region thanks in part to the races that farmers used to hold with their tractors.

Modena (Italy), the reconstruction of Enzo Ferrari's study (with a photo of his son Dino, who died prematurely, on the wall) on display at the Enzo Ferrari Museum, inaugurated in 2012 and designed by architect Jan Kaplicky, who was inspired by a car hood when designing the building. The museum is located where Enzo Ferrari, born in 1898, lived as a child with his parents and brother Enzo.

San Cesario sul Panaro (Modena, Italy), a mechanic checks a car in a Pagani Automobili workshop, which is inspired by a typical Italian square with arches and exposed brickwork. Born in Argentina in 1955, Horacio Pagani moved to Italy in 1982, where he worked as a laborer at Lamborghini. He unveiled his first car, the Zonda, in 1998.

Misano Adriatico (Rimini, Italy), at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli,” two technicians bring electric motorcycles onto the track during the MotoE race. Located on the southeastern edge of Motor Valley, the circuit was opened in 1972 under the auspices of Enzo Ferrari.

Bastiglia (Modena, Italy), several historic Ferrari and Maserati cars are stored in the Bacchelli & Villa workshop, and in the foreground on the right is a Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopio, while the walls are covered with the so-called “filoni” (beating bars) of three Ferraris: the “filoni” were iron rod structures on which the sheets of metal were shaped and laid by hand.

Varano de' Melegari (Parma, Italy), a visitor tries out Dallara's sophisticated simulator, which perfectly reproduces to the test driver the car behaviour on the track simulating tires, suspension, aerodynamic, engine, gearbox, etc. Engineer Giampaolo Dallara, born in 1936, worked at Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and De Tomaso before opening his own company in his hometown in 1972, which now also operates in the aerospace sector.

The Via Emilia cuts through the center of Modena (Italy) from east to west. Built by the Romans between 189 and 187 BC, it connected Rimini to Piacenza: today it is the symbol of Motor Valley, the place where some of the most beautiful cars in the world were born and where brands, circuits, universities, and museums dedicated to the world of motors and speed are still concentrated today..

Parma (Italy), during a car meet at Corte Glam organized by the guys from GCM (Gasoline Cars Meet), a girl poses for a photograph. In the land of Motor Valley, sports car meets organized by young enthusiasts are commonplace.

San Cesario sul Panaro (Modena, Italy), Horacio Pagani Museum, old notebooks with Horacio Pagani's car designs. Born in Argentina in 1955, Pagani moved to Italy in 1982, where he worked as a laborer at Lamborghini. Today, he heads a company—Pagani Automobili—with a turnover of €160 million.

Bastiglia (Modena, Italy), a worker paints some new body parts in classic Ferrari red at the Bacchelli & Villa workshop. Founded in 1972, the company is one of the world's leading classic car restoration workshops, specializing in Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati bodywork.

San Cesario sul Panaro (Modena, Italy), at the Horacio Pagani Museum, a tourist has his picture taken behind a cardboard cutout of a Pagani sports car. Born in Argentina in 1955, Horacio Pagani moved to Italy in 1982, where he worked as a factory worker at Lamborghini. Today, he is the head of a company—Pagani Automobili—with a turnover of €160 million.

Varano de' Melegari (Parma, Italy), nestled in the foothills of the Apennines along the Ceno River, is home to the Riccardo Paletti racetrack, which opened in 1969. Not far from the circuit and to the right of the river is the headquarters of Dallara, a company founded by engineer and entrepreneur Giampaolo Dallara.

Varano de' Melegari (Parma, Italy), MUNER (Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna) students attend an Engineering lesson about race car design in Dallara Academy. Engineer Giampaolo Dallara, born in 1936, worked at Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and De Tomaso before opening his own company in his hometown in 1972, which is now also involved in the aerospace sector.

San Cesario sul Panaro (Modena, Italy), mechanics at work in the Pagani Automobili workshop, which is inspired by a typical Italian square with arches and exposed brickwork. Born in Argentina in 1955, Horacio Pagani moved to Italy in 1982, where he worked as a laborer at Lamborghini. Today, he is the head of a company with a turnover of €160 million.

Pezzolo di Russi (Ravenna, Italy), a tractor driver is interviewed during the “Festa de Mutor” (tractor festival). Motor Valley originated in the Emilia Romagna region thanks in part to the races that farmers used to hold with their tractors.

Parma (Italy), during a car meet at Corte Glam organized by the guys from GCM (Gasoline Cars Meet), people chat and discuss cars. In the land of Motor Valley, sports car meets organized by young enthusiasts are commonplace.

Sant'Agata Bolognese (Bologna, Italy), a tourist photographs a Lamborghini Veneno in a room at the Lamborghini Museum. Born in 1916, Ferruccio Lamborghini began producing agricultural tractors in the late 1940s: the first car would not arrive until 1963.

Bologna (Italy), at work in the Ducati Style Center, where customizations are developed through the choice of materials, finishes, and colors. Founded in 1926 to produce radios, Ducati presented its first motorcycle in 1949: in 2024, it had a turnover of just over one billion euros.

Modena (Italy), an old photo of the 1947 Ferrari 125S Barchetta on display at the Enzo Ferrari Museum, inaugurated in 2012 and designed by architect Jan Kaplicky, who drew inspiration from a car hood when designing the building. The museum is located where Enzo Ferrari, born in 1898, lived as a child with his parents and brother Enzo.

Misano Adriatico (Rimini, Italy), at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli,” young rider Mattia Casadei is satisfied after winning the MotoE race. Mattia is a talent born right here in this land of motors and speed, in Rimini in 1999.

A stretch of the Via Emilia in the countryside between Modena and Bologna (Italy), in the Emilia Romagna region. This is where the so-called Motor Valley is located, the place where some of the most beautiful cars in the world were born and where brands, circuits, universities, and museums dedicated to the world of motors and speed are still concentrated today.

Maranello (Italy), young students prepare for a model car race during the F1 in Schools Italy National Finals event hosted by Ferrari and organized by Dallara, which also organizes specialized university courses in automotive engineering as part of MUNER (Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna).

Varano de' Melegari (Parma, Italy), Dallara technicians prepare for curing race car carbon fiber components inside the autoclave. Engineer Giampaolo Dallara, born in 1936, worked at Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and De Tomaso before opening his own company in his hometown in 1972, which now also operates in the aerospace sector.

Maranello (Italy), a Ferrari 308GTS parked in the streets of the town. In 1943, due to a need for space, Enzo Ferrari moved his car manufacturing company from Modena to Maranello, where he had purchased a farmhouse with some land in 1942: this is the same land where Ferrari Spa still stands today.

Modena (Italy), a Maserati A6G/54 on display at Umberto Panini's Maserati Collection. Founded in Bologna in 1914 by mechanic and racing driver Alfieri Maserati, the first car bearing his surname was officially launched in 1926.

San Cesario sul Panaro (Modena, Italy), a worker at Pagani Automobili prepares a carbon fiber chassis. Born in Argentina in 1955, Pagani moved to Italy in 1982: he presented his first car, the Zonda, built in carbon fiber, in 1998.

Pezzolo di Russi (Ravenna, Italy), some men prepare their tractor before the tractor pulling race during the “Festa de Mutor” (tractor festival). Motor Valley was born in the Emilia Romagna region thanks in part to the races that farmers used to hold with their tractors.

Maranello (Italy), tourists photograph a huge yellow flag bearing the Ferrari symbol, a prancing horse during the “Notte Rossa” (Red Night), a festival dedicated to Ferrari. The symbol was given to Ferrari by the mother of the famous Italian aviator Francesco Baracca, who died during World War I, and adopted by Enzo as the emblem of his company.

Sant'Agata Bolognese (Bologna, Italy), not far from Lamborghini's headquarters, a tractor passes through the fields of the Po Valley. Ferruccio Lamborghini, born to farmers in the Ferrara countryside, was known for his innovative agricultural tractors before he started producing sports cars.

Pezzolo di Russi (Ravenna, Italy), retired farmer Tiziano Solaroli—who used to compete in tractor pulling races—repairs a scooter in his workshop. Motor Valley was born in the Emilia Romagna region thanks in part to the races that farmers used to hold with their tractors.

Varano de' Melegari (Parma, Italy), Dallara employees attending refresher courses on surface treatments for metal components in racing. Engineer Giampaolo Dallara, born in 1936, worked at Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and De Tomaso before opening his own company in his hometown in 1972, which is now also involved in the aerospace sector.

Modena (Italy), the F140GA engine on display at the Enzo Ferrari Museum, inaugurated in 2012 and designed by architect Jan Kaplicky, who drew inspiration from a car hood when designing the building. The museum is located where Enzo Ferrari, born in 1898, lived as a child with his parents and brother Enzo.

Varano de' Melegari (Parma, Italy), Giampaolo Dallara walks next to a Dallara Stradale, a carbon fiber car unveiled in 2016. Engineer Giampaolo Dallara, born in 1936, worked at Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, and De Tomaso before opening his own company in his hometown in 1972, which is now also involved in the aerospace sector.

Bologna (Italy), at the headquarters of motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, in the Borgo Panigale district, a technician tests a motocross bike. Founded in 1926 to produce radios, Ducati unveiled its first motorcycle in 1949: in 2024, it had a turnover of just over €1 billion.

Mugello Circuit (Florence, Italy), two electric motorcycles during the MotoE race. Built in 1972 not far from a circuit that had been in use since 1914, the racetrack was purchased by Ferrari in 1988.

Parma (Italy), during a car meet at Corte Glam organized by the guys from GCM (Gasoline Cars Meet), some young people look at the cars. In the land of Motor Valley, sports car meets organized by young enthusiasts are common.

San Cesario sul Panaro (Modena, Italy), the road sign outside the headquarters of Pagani Automobili, founded by Italian-Argentinian Horacio Pagani. “If you want to build cars,” Juan Manuel Fangio once told him, “there's only one place in the world you need to go: Emilia, in Italy.”

Modena (Italy), replica of the bodywork of a Ferrari Nembo designed in 1964 by coachbuilders Neri and Bonacini, on display at the Palazzo dei Musei as part of the exhibition “Gli scultori della velocità” (The Sculptors of Speed). Between the 1950s and 1970s, Modena's coachbuilders hand-crafted car bodies that became true works of art.

Mugello Circuit (Florence, Italy), a girl photographs the MotoGP pits. Built in 1972 not far from a circuit that has been in use since 1914, the racetrack was purchased by Ferrari in 1988.

Bastiglia (Modena, Italy), the entrance to Bacchelli & Villa, a company specializing in vintage car restoration, with an old photo of actor Alain Delon in his Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider.

Maranello (Italy), tourists curiously observe some cars inside the Ferrari factory. In 1943, due to a need for space, Enzo Ferrari moved his car company from Modena to Maranello, where he had purchased a farmhouse with some land in 1942: it is the same land where Ferrari Spa still stands today.

Modena (Italy), visiting “130 Modellini,” an educational collection of miniature cars curated by Elis Sernesi. The exhibition is part of Motor Valley Fest, a series of events celebrating Italy's motor racing heartland, Emilia Romagna, home to legendary brands, iconic circuits, racing teams, private collections, museums, and training institutes.

San Cesario sul Panaro (Modena, Italy), a group of tourists visits Pagani Automobili, founded by Italian-Argentinian Horacio Pagani. Born in 1955, Pagani moved to Italy in 1982 and unveiled his first car, the Zonda, in 1998.

Maranello (Italy), a Ferrari 575 in a room at the town hall. In 1943, due to a need for space, Enzo Ferrari moved his car manufacturing company from Modena to Maranello, where he had purchased a farmhouse with some land in 1942: this is the same land where Ferrari Spa still stands today.