Automobile Museum of San Martino in Rio
A rural collection of approximately forty vintage automobiles, assembled over decades by enthusiasts in the Emilian countryside between Modena and Reggio Emilia.
At a glance
The museum occupies a converted workshop on the outskirts of San Martino in Rio. Inside, carefully arranged vintage cars span the history of early European and Italian automotive design. The collection reflects the passion of founder Emilio Storchi Fermi, known as Barighin, whose vision shaped the museum’s distinctive character.
History
The collection began in an unexpected way: a Fiat 634 truck nicknamed the “Queen of Africa”—used during Italian colonization of Abyssinia—arrived at San Martino in Rio carrying three vehicles. One was a Weymann-type Fiat 509 sedan with a wooden body and canvas covering.
Barighin founded the Scuderia di San Martino in Rio, a formal association of automobile enthusiasts inspired by this arrival. The municipality approved a purpose-built shed in 1965. Following Barighin’s death in 1975, the museum closed temporarily but was revived in 1981 by his associates and friends.
The collection gained international recognition through numerous publications documenting its rare specimens.
What you see
The museum building is a modest, disused workshop that reveals little from the outside. Step inside to discover approximately forty automobiles from the early twentieth century onward. Each vehicle is neatly positioned to showcase its design and engineering—masterpieces of European automotive history.
Cultural significance
The Automobile Museum documents Italian automotive heritage and the passion of private collectors who preserved these vehicles when industrial history was often discarded. The collection’s focus on early models and European marques reflects a moment when the automobile was transforming daily life.
Key facts
- Address: Via Agide Barbieri, 12, 42018 San Martino in Rio
- Coordinates: 44.73647976484113, 10.783011317253113
- Official website: http://www.museodellauto.it
- Phone: 0522 636133
Practical information
The museum displays approximately forty vintage automobiles. A detailed site provides descriptions of all vehicles on display and supplementary information. Opening hours and admission fees are available through the official website.
Getting there
San Martino in Rio is located in the province of Reggio Emilia, in the Emilian plain between Modena and Reggio Emilia. The museum address is Via Agide Barbieri, 12. Consult the official website or call ahead for directions and access details.
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