The pilgrimage to Ducati’s factory in Borgo Panigale in Bologona, central Italy, is now an even deeper experience for the faithful after the recent revamping of the company’s museum.
The focus has broadened from Ducati’s substantial racing history to include its proud road bike heritage.
It also includes exhibits from its earlier days making radio parts and other consumer products.
Key models are included. They range from the Cucciolo engine that helped get post-war Italy mobile, through to the ever-faster single-cylinder machines. They continue with the bevel-drive twins and all the way to the Desmosedici RR MotoGP replica.
Your pilgrimage starts impressively when you walk into the subdued museum. You see a curving row of race bikes that marked key moments in Ducati history.
Instinctively, you want to follow that curve around the corner to see where it leads. However, more brightly lit rooms to the side draw you away again to other displays.
The whole museum is set up artistically and cleverly — much like Ducati’s motorcycles have always been.
Different, beautiful, devastatingly effective.
A Ducati Museum pilgrimage might take you minutes if you rush or hours if you linger. By the time you finish you not only know a lot more about Ducati’s history, you’ve been imbued with some of Ducati’s passion.
Ducati Museum pilgrimage details
Race bikes at the Ducati MuseumLocation: The Ducati Museum is located above the factory at Via Antonio Cavalieri Ducati, 3, 40132 Borgo Panigale, Bologna BO, Italy.
Opening times: Monday to Friday combined museum and factory tours (9.15am, 11am, 1.45pm, 3.30pm). Saturday guided museum tours only (10am, 11am, 12pm). Saturday guided tours of the factory and museum are reserved exclusively for Ducati Owners Clubs groups.
Bookings: Ducati factory and museum tours need to be booked and conducted by a Ducati guide. Contact +39 (0)51 6413343 (Monday to Friday, 10-11am and 2-4pm) or via online form.
Prices: € 10 per person (discounts for groups, Ducati owners, tour operators, etc € 8 per person)
More details: Ducati website.