In Pontedera, near Pisa, the Piaggio Museum connects two-wheeled engineering with everyday Italian culture. Opened in factory premises in 2000, it brings Vespa together with Ciao and Bravo mopeds, the Ape and motorcycles from Aprilia, Gilera and Moto Guzzi. There is good reason to look beyond one familiar silhouette.
Highlights include the 1940s MP5, nicknamed Paperino, and the MP6 prototype developed by Corradino d’Ascanio in autumn 1945. Elsewhere, racing history is represented by the Aprilia RS 125 on which Valentino Rossi won his first world championship in 1997.
The Piaggio archive adds technical drawings, photographs and advertising material, opening up research into both manufacturing and how the company addressed riders. Researchers can consult the archive free of charge by appointment.
Museum visits require advance online booking. Opening days are Tuesday to Saturday plus the second and fourth Sunday of each month; Mondays are closed. Check available slots for your chosen date before travelling. The address is Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 7, Pontedera.