Italian
German
Nicolis Museum of Auto, Technology, Mechanics
- Category What to do Lake Garda and Verona
Nicolis Museum: in Villafranca di Verona, the means of transport evolution over the last two centuries.
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The Extraordinary Nicolis Museum
The Nicolis Museum is not a “static” museum in the traditional sense but rather a spectacular, cutting‑edge hub of culture, ideas and mechanical ingenuity. Officially titled the “Nicolis Museum of Cars, Technology and Mechanics,” it opened in 2000 in Villafranca di Verona. Its founder, Luciano Nicolis—entrepreneur and head of the Lamacart Group—poured his lifelong passion for transport history and technological innovation into this project.
Spread over 6,000 m² of bright, eco‑friendly exhibition space, the museum houses nine themed collections covering more than two centuries of human creativity: 200 automobiles—including the legendary Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A, Tazio Nuvolari’s Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 and a Mille Miglia Lancia Astura—plus 120 motorcycles, 110 vintage bicycles (from the 1816 draisine to Coppi’s and Bartali’s racing Bianchis), historic cameras and typewriters, mechanical musical instruments, Formula‑1 steering wheels, aircraft engines and rare microcars and futuristic prototypes.
Named “Museum of the Year” at London’s Historic Motoring Awards (2018), the Nicolis stands out for its constant dialogue with visitors: interactive guided tours, STEAM workshops for schools, temporary exhibitions on design and motoring art, plus a packed calendar of talks with drivers, engineers and collectors. Modular event spaces and a high‑tech auditorium also make it a sought‑after venue for corporate functions and photo shoots.
The barrier‑free itinerary features multimedia tables, augmented‑reality stations and a master “Time Line” linking inventions, historical context and pop‑culture anecdotes. Rounding out the offer are a technical library with more than 10,000 volumes and the Luciano Nicolis Archive, available by appointment for researchers and university theses.
