MAUTO: National Automobile Museum of Turin
One of the world’s oldest and most significant automobile museums, housing original vehicles from 80 manufacturers across three thematic floors of a purpose-built modernist structure.
At a glance
The MAUTO (also known as the Giovanni Agnelli National Automobile Museum) occupies a striking modernist building designed by architect Amedeo Albertini on Turin’s left bank of the Po River. The collection spans vehicles from eighty manufacturers, organized thematically across three exhibition floors. It remains among the world’s foremost institutions dedicated to automotive history.
History
The museum was founded in 1932 by Cesare Goria Gatti and Roberto Biscaretti di Ruffia, pioneers of Italian motoring. Biscaretti di Ruffia served as the first President of the Automobile Club of Turin and was among Fiat’s founders.
The current building, constructed specifically to house the museum’s collection, opened on its present site near the Lingotto in 1960. The architecture itself exemplifies mid-century modernist design adapted to museum purposes.
What you see
The purpose-built structure showcases original automobiles distributed across three floors, each with distinct curatorial focus. The second floor examines the automobile’s role in twentieth-century history and technological progress. The first floor explores the relationship between humans and vehicles, while the third floor addresses the intersection of automotive design and industrial aesthetics. Amedeo Albertini’s modernist design provides an appropriate setting for this chronological and thematic journey.
Cultural significance
MAUTO documents Italy’s profound contribution to automotive innovation and design, particularly through Turin’s industrial heritage. The museum preserves the evolution of cars as both technological achievements and cultural objects that transformed twentieth-century society. Its three-part thematic structure encourages visitors to consider the automobile beyond mechanics—as a social, aesthetic, and historical force.
Key facts
- Address: Corso Unità d’Italia, 40, 10126 Turin
- Coordinates: 45.0312804, 7.6741845
- Founded: 1932
- Current building opened: 1960
- Architect: Amedeo Albertini
- Collection: Original vehicles from 80 manufacturers
- Phone: +39 011 677666
- Website: museoauto.it
Practical information
The museum offers a virtual tour via Google Maps Street View. Opening hours and admission details are available on the official website. The venue is wheelchair-accessible and located near public transport links to central Turin.
Getting there
The museum sits on the left bank of the Po River, near the Lingotto district. You can reach it by public transit; the address is Corso Unità d’Italia, 40. For specific transit routes and directions, consult the museum’s website or local Turin transport information.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
Historical events at this place (2)
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