With four days left before leaving for Rome, I see the need to arrange a sidetrip to satisfy my 16 yr old son's desire to see the Ferrari/Masarati car museum in Modena. In the books I have, nowhere is there mention of a train from Firenze to Modena or Bologna - they give car details but we will be travelling by train. Can anyone advise? Also, as this is a day trip from San Momme (Northwest Tuscany - by Pistoia) what else would be of interest?

For train schedules and to purchase tickets, go to the Trenitalia website. Instructions on how to order tickets have been posted many times. Do a search for them because you may experience some problems when ordering.

It seems to me that when taking the train from Firenze to Milan, Bologna was one of the stops en route.

Hi guardina,

You can find train schedules and most prices at www.trenitalia.com/en.

There are IC trains that go through Bologna on the way to Modena.

Since you will be in Italy for some time before you go to Modena, it will be easiest to get your tickets there.

Guardina, Please note that the Ferrari Museum is actually in Maranello, not Modena (I believe it is about 12 km away). I think there is a bus that goes from Modena to Maranello, I am not sure as we are driving. (I know that bc E's comment on our trip next week was, "Darling, I'll do whatever you like the rest of the time, as long as I can see the Ferraris...&quot I've found this link to be helpful - http://www.barchetta.cc/All.Ferraris...ing-maranello/.

On a related note - does any one know anything about Il Cavallino? Is it worth it or is it a Hard Rock Cafe for cars? Thanks!

I'm also leaving in 4 days... Let the countdown begin!

We leave for Italy in a week and are also traveling by train. One leg of our trip will be from Florence to Bologna. There is a direct EuroStar (ES) train that goes between the two cities, leaving several times an hour. If you have a railpass, you would only need to make a reservation for the train. Check either www.trenitalia.com or www.raileurope.com.

Remember to put the Italian spelling of the city/town name in for destinations on the trenitalia site.

We also stopped in Bologna on our way from Florence to Venice via Eurostar. We booked tickets four days in advance in July very easily at the Club Eurostar in the Florence train station.

Thanks everyone.
Ira - very interesting - what makes you think we'll have been in Italy for awhile - I don't think I'd mentioned that in my email (yes - we are going for a month and are very excited - I love Italy and haven't been back since before my 16 year old was born. We are staying with my ex's family north of Venice and then to Milan to a friend's there.
KikiLee: Thanks - that's very good info and I'll check out that website. I know it's last minute planning (and the whole trip has been over a year in the planning!) but I think it's one thing my son will enjoy (since I won't let him bring his skateboard or skimboard). We are counting down too - so exciting!
Eliztrav: good tip - thanks.
Statia: Wow - last minute-ish is still possible! That's good to know - I guess we could have our hotel in Rome or Sorrento or even from San Momme book it.
Barbara J: What else are you planning to do in Bologna?
Ingenieur: I know, I know - I'm too stoked or something now to do it online. But it sounds like its do-able there. Our travel agent made most of our reservations (we got the train pass that allows 7 unlimited days of travel). I am getting lazy in my panic to clean up at work for a month absence and all the house and garden things to do at home.
Marilyn: I thought so but at a quick glance couldn't find it - thanks.
guardina.

Hi Guardina,
>Ira - very interesting - what makes you think we'll have been in Italy for awhile ...<

You wrote
>With four days left before leaving for Rome, I see the need to arrange a sidetrip...<

From this I was able, with the help of three pipes of shag tobacco, to deduce that you would be in Rome, probably at FCO, prior to Florence.

Enjoy your trip.

Guardina - We will just be in the train station in Bologna connecting to an intercity train to Pesaro. We are going to Urbino (in the Marches) for 5 days.

Ira:

Just came across this oldie of mine and hadn't ever gone back to the site - never saw your answer which now so amuses me. Thanks for the chuckle.

You wrote
>With four days left before leaving for Rome, I see the need to arrange a sidetrip...<

From this I was able, with the help of three pipes of shag tobacco, to deduce that you would be in Rome, probably at FCO, prior to Florence.

Enjoy your trip.

You might also look into this guide service. We're booked on one of their day tours this fall.

www.motorstars.org

Okay...duh!

I should start looking at the dates of these posts before responding...

When you arrive in Modena, there is a bus stop/taxi pickup spot just outside the train station. The station itself is fairly small. At the taxi stop there is a sign posting the exact taxi fares to Maranello. I was in Modena last year, but did not get a chance to visit Ferrari.

Remember that the Ferrari museum is not at the factory itself, but nearby. The museum is called Galleria Ferrari. The address is Via Dino Ferrari 43. It is not open on Monday, with typical Italian hours, being closed from 12:30 to 3 PM.

The bus, if you wish to take it, runs about every hour and will say Maranello.