During the 2015 holiday in Northern Italy, I really wanted to see the renewed and just reopened Museo Storico Alfa visit Romeo. Out of pure adoration. And to make a report about it. The Italians thought it was special that a Dutch scribe wanted to spend a day of his holiday on La Macchina del Tempo. The accreditation request was warmly received by them. In turn, I considered my planned visit in advance as one of the highlights of our holiday in Iseo, Italy. At the beginning of July 2015 the time had come. I finally made my entrance into the then-renovated museum. It was only a harbinger of what was to come.
The impressive history of Alfa revealed itself in a wonderful setting. The different themes made a deep impression on me. The prototypes, the timeline, the Area Velocita with that palpable historical race drama on the wafer-thin emotional dividing line between life and death: I was completely captivated by that typical Italian mystique that the museum exhaled from every pore. And what also impressed me: the way in which the Italian visitors use the Alfa experienced history and future. I saw that they loved the brand new Giulia. I saw that every classic Alfa was watched with deep admiration. And I saw how that ever-scalding Italian pride came to a powerful outburst.
Lunch with special people
In the meantime I took pictures, and by an hour or two it was time for an excellent lunch. I sat at a table with the extremely charming PR lady of the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo, Rafaella Quaqaro. The Italian DTM driver Gianni Giudici, marketing officer Anna Marchi and the curator of the museum were also part of the group. We discussed the future of Alfa Romeo, and I later saw how it silk thread of Lancia was sincerely regretted. At that table I felt the deep-rooted love for the refined and stubborn Italian automotive industry. And for Alfa Romeo in particular. After lunch, Rafaella and I said goodbye to the company. I spoke informally with the press officer for a while, and then decided to visit the most beautiful heritage in the museum one more time.
enchanting Alfa, enchantingly sung
The most enchanting Alfa classic in Museo Storico Alfa Romeo for me was the 8C 2900 B Lungo, a Superleggera from Touring. I wanted to see that one again. Once again I arrived at this unexpectedly beautiful automobile. At the car stood a graceful lady, who was probably already over seventy. “This is getting old nicely”, I knew. Getting very old. Immediately a beautiful spectacle unfolded. I did not know what I saw. I watched breathlessly how the “Lungo” was sung by the woman.
Omaggio a Nonno
The rapturous tribute lasted a while. Finally the solo opera came to an end, and I cautiously moved towards the beautiful elderly woman. I introduced myself and asked her politely what this car did to her. And then it came. The Italian nurtured a deep love for her grandfather as well as for the creation of Touring. Her grandfather had once had the privilege of driving a “Lungo”, and she had witnessed it several times. The formidable Superleggera of Alfa melted fond memories in the lady. The result was a wonderful one Omaggio a Nonno.
Fitting capstone of a beautiful day
I understood it. I understood completely and as I said goodbye to the woman I stammered: “Grazie per tua bella storia, grazie, grazie mille”. The woman clasped my hand and thanked me too. It touched me. I had witnessed a serenade, which proved to me that cars in Italy represent a philosophy of life. That love was shown in an ultimate way in Museo Storico Alfa Romeo. In La Macchina del Tempo, that great one Alfa temple where one of the most beautiful cars in history was sung about. It was a fitting conclusion to the visit to the museum, where I experienced one of my best car days ever.
Wow, what a beautiful experience.