During a recent visit to Modena, I once again took the opportunity of visiting the Panini Museum to see the family's fine collection of historic and classic cars that includes one of the world's finest collection of Maseratis, and of course, buy some of their excellent Parmesan cheese.

I telephoned Matteo Panini and asked if I could visit the museum and take some photographs for the web site. Having made an appointment, I arrived early one morning and was greeted by Matteo who invited me to "take as many photos as I'd like !" Not being one to refuse such a generous invitation, armed with my Olympus E10, I entered the museum and the results can be viewed on this page.

It was back in the early 1996 that Alessandro De Tomaso contacted the Fiat Group to see if they were interested in buying his Maserati Collection. The collection, was at this time, housed in a museum within the factory compound. He gave Fiat an ultiumatum declaring that he would remove his collection if they did not buy it. It appears that Fiat were only interested in the Maserati engines within the collection, and declined his offer. De Tomaso took his collection from the Maserati museum, and shortly after contacted London auction house Brooks, and a deal was agreed for the entire collection to be sold in London in May 1997. Some of the cars were shipped over to the UK in 1996, and put on display at Brooks' London showrooms in readiness for the sale.

Meanwhile back in Italy, news of the forthcoming sale leaked out, and the thought of these rare Maserati racing cars and prototypes being lost to Modena and the nation, brought universal condemnation from the people of Modena, ex-racing drivers, the Registro Maserati, the Club Maserati, the Modenese Council, the local and national press, and even the Italian Minister of Culture. Such was the outcry that all and sundry looked for an amicable solution that would keep this important collection in Modena. It was at this point that Sig Umberto Panini stepped in, offered to buy the collection and house them in a purpose built museum on his dairy farm, Hombre, just outside Modena. De Tomaso agreed, a satisfactory deal was done with Brooks, and the cars were returned to Modena. The collection is now safely housed for the nation in a purpose built air-conditioned museum adjoining the family home just outside Modena.

"In Italian folklore, if a swallow (rondine) nests in your house, 'Good Luck' is sure to follow. This tale nurtured a tradition that encouraged young children to go out onto rooftops, and by waving white flags; usually a white cloth attached to a broomstick, would encourage the migrating swallows to nest in their houses."

This is the tale behind a charming cartoon shown to me a couple of years ago by Dott. Matteo Panini which pictures his father Umberto as a 'child' on his rooftop waving a white flag attached to an upturned trident. But, it is not swallows that Sig Panini is encouraging to nest in his house, but a collection of flying Maseratis.