Visit to the centre of the Italian automotive industry

From 9 to 13 October 2017, pupils from the 3SA and 3SB classes visited the centre of the Italian automotive industry. The very busy programme consisted of a tour of the city of Milan, the centre of world fashion, with countless historical monuments and cultural attractions. The first day was rounded off with a visit to the Monza racing circuit, famous for hosting F1 races for years, followed by a departure to the 3* hotel that became our home for two days. The tour cost included two sumptuous buffet breakfasts. The second day was devoted to a visit to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello and in the afternoon a visit to the permanent Ferrari exhibition in Modena. Maranello offers an overview of the evolution of the brand through all model lines. Prototype extravaganzas, engine details and F1 monoposts are also amply represented. Modena is the permanent Ferrari exhibition housed in a design-appealing building by the Czech architect Kaplicky. The company presents a cross-section of its entire production, historical documents, and engine development. At certain times there is a video show in memory of the company's founder Enzo Ferrari. The day ended with a visit to the Homobre Bio Farm with its extensive collection of Maserati vehicles, motorcycles of various makes and tractors. The organic farm is a producer of parmesan cheese, with the possibility of a tour and purchase. The third day started with a visit to the Ducati motorcycle production plant. The factory is entered in small groups with a guide. English interpretation is transmitted by wireless audio system to the ears of individuals in the group. It is strictly forbidden to bring mobile phones and recording devices into the race. Interested participants are guided through the engine plant and motorcycle assembly lines, and the tour concludes with a test and dispatch. Then the tour continues with cameras and mobile phones already in the brand museum on the upper floors of the factory. After a short crossing by air-conditioned bus, we visited the Lamborgini exposition. Here it is possible to see the entire production program of the company, take a look inside the engines in partial sections and see the F1 monoposts of the Aryton Sena. The afternoon hours were dedicated to a tour of the university town of Bologna, followed by a night crossing back to České Budějovice.

Mgr. Ivan Lavička