The National Automobile Museum: Why It Is One of Turin's Best Attractions

An insider look into MAUTO, where industrial heritage, futuristic design, and social history meet along the banks of the Po.

Even if you aren't a self-proclaimed gearhead, it is almost impossible to understand modern Turin without stepping inside MAUTO, the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile. Located in the southern Lingotto-Nizza Millefonti district along Corso Unità d'Italia, this isn't just a collection of polished vintage cars; it is a sweeping narrative of design, industrial revolution, and pop culture that shaped 20th-century Europe.

Redesigned in 2011 by architect Cino Zucchi, the futuristic steel-and-glass structure houses over 200 original vehicles from 80 different brands across three sprawling floors.

MAUTO tells the story of how the automobile changed human freedom, urban landscapes, and design aesthetics, with Turin sitting right at the center of the wheel.

Unlike traditional static car galleries, MAUTO was curated by François Confino, the visionary scenographer behind Turin's Cinema Museum inside the Mole Antonelliana. The exhibition unfolds backwards in time as you descend, treating each vehicle as an artifact of its era.

The museum's collection highlights three distinct dimensions:

• The Pioneers & Innovation: Rare gems like the 1893 Bernardi (the first Italian petrol-driven car) and the 1907 Itala, which won the legendary 15,000 km Peking-to-Paris race.
• Design & Style Icons: A dedicated gallery honoring the legendary carrozzieri (body designers) of Turin, Pininfarina, Bertone, Giugiaro, and Zagato, whose sketches defined international automotive beauty.
• The Social Revolution: Exhibits showing how the Fiat 500 (Topolino and Nuova 500) democratized travel for millions of Italian families during the post-war economic boom.

MAUTO's location is deeply strategic. It sits within walking distance of the historic Lingotto building, Fiat's former mega-factory famous for its rooftop test track (now transformed into the Pista 500 open-air art park), and right across from the original Eataly headquarters.

This cluster makes Nizza Millefonti one of Turin's most fascinating examples of industrial urban regeneration: you can trace the history of manufacturing at MAUTO, walk the historic factory roof at Lingotto, and finish with local Piedmontese food across the street.

• Location: Corso Unità d'Italia 40, Turin (Lingotto area)
• Getting There: Metro Line 1 (Lingotto stop + 8 min walk) or Bus 34 / 74
• Opening Hours: Mondays 10:00 to 14:00; Tue to Sun 10:00 to 19:00
• Tickets: Around €15 Full
• Nearby Highlights: Lingotto Rooftop (Pista 500), Pinacoteca Agnelli, Eataly Lingotto

For visitors prioritizing their museum itinerary in Turin, MAUTO holds a distinct position:

• MAUTO vs. National Cinema Museum (Mole Antonelliana): While the Cinema Museum relies heavily on verticality and atmospheric lighting inside a landmark monument, MAUTO offers a vast, horizontal, immersive walk-through experience with far shorter entry queues.
• MAUTO vs. Lavazza Museum: Lavazza provides an excellent, highly interactive corporate branding journey in Aurora, but MAUTO operates on a national scale with broader historical and cultural depth.

Verdict: MAUTO ranks alongside the Egyptian Museum and Cinema Museum as one of Turin's top three world-class museum experiences, even for non-car enthusiasts.

To make the most of your trip to MAUTO, keep these local recommendations in mind:

1. Combine it with Pista 500 & Pinacoteca Agnelli: Buy a combined ticket or use your Torino Card to visit the rooftop track at Lingotto right after MAUTO for panoramic views of the Alps and South Turin. 2. Visit on Monday Morning: Most major municipal museums in Turin are closed on Mondays, but MAUTO remains open from 10:00 to 14:00, making it the perfect itinerary fix for Monday visits. 3. Take the River Walk Back: After your visit, stroll through the adjacent Parco delle Vallere or walk along the Po riverbank trail north toward Parco del Valentino for a quiet green escape away from city traffic.

• MAUTO (Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile): Official institutional archives, collection catalog, and visitor specs.
• Città di Torino, Architettura e Rigenerazione Urbana: Urban planning documentation on the Lingotto and Nizza Millefonti industrial district.
• Abbonamento Musei Piemonte: Access policies, card inclusions, and regional museum network data.