Automobile Museum of San Martino in Rio

In the Emilian plain on the outskirts of Modena, but already in the province of Reggio Emilia, is the Automobile Museum of S. Martino in Rio, perfectly in tune with the rural and peaceful atmosphere of this area, far from the hectic pace of the city.

The history of this museum begins with a "Queen of Africa" ??- this was the name of the 634 Fiat truck used for the colonization of Abyssinia - who stopped at the gates of San Martino in Rio with three vehicles on board. Of the three transported, only one was identified with precision: it was a Weymann-type Fiat 509 sedan, with a wooden body covered with canvas to make the whole look lighter.

Since then other cars were driven to S. Martino by the "Queen of Africa" ??and other trucks and soon the Scuderia di S. Martino was born, founded by Barighin, pseudonym of Emilio Storchi Fermi, a man with a spirit of initiative and imagination, which managed to impress an original brand on the entire collection, so much so that, even today, thirty years after its death, it stands out among the similar initiatives in the sector. Some enthusiasts who, like him, loved to have fun with cars also joined the realization of Barighin's project.

Years passed, however, before the collected cars found accommodation in a single room; in fact the municipality approved only in 1965 the project of a shed to be used as a real museum of the collection.

However, the history of the museum does not end in this way. In 1975 Barighin died suddenly, leaving his associates and friends dismayed and disoriented, who managed to revive the Museum in 1981.

The activity of the Scuderia is also worthy of consideration due to the notoriety acquired throughout the world of the vintage car, thanks to the numerous publications of the encyclopedic genre, which showed photographs of specimens, accompanied by source and place.

Seen from the outside, the Museum goes almost unnoticed, being a disused workshop, but the advice is not to stop at the appearance and enter, because the approximately forty cars collected are masterpieces ready to lead the visitor on a journey that has seen them undisputed. queens of the street and are enough, neatly arranged next to each other, to intrigue and excite. The site contains a complete description of all the cars on display and many other information.

Map: Automobile Museum of San Martino in Rio