These museums are dedicated to some of Italy’s most iconic creations, including cars, coffee, Renaissance art and chocolate.

Here are five awesome Italian museums that you may not know exist, which are dedicated to truly Italian artisanship.

Lavazza’s Coffee Museum, Turin

Lavazza’s Coffee Museum is the perfect place for any coffee lover and it includes a coffee tasting. 

Lavazza, one of Italy’s most recognised coffee brands, opened its museum at the end of 2018. 

Located in Turin, the museum is dedicated to Lavazza’s history, which began in 1895, after Luigi Lavazza founded the company. 

There are five galleries within the museum and interactive displays that are activated by a special Lavazza Cup that visitors are given upon entry. 

Perks include a recreated 1960s Italian piazza featuring an Autobar, a van used during the era to sell coffee, and Universo, a 360-degree multimedia projection space. 

Did you know Lavazza designed the first espresso machine designed for space travel?

Nor did we!

Look out for the special space creation called ISSpresso if you attend this museum. 

Entry is €10 for adults and the museum is open Wednesday to Sunday.

For more information visit the museum’​s website.

‘500 Years of Raphael’ Exhibition, Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, Urbino 

In 2015, the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche in Urbino was also instated as a museum.

The gallery is housed in the Palazzo Ducale and as its Italian name suggests, the building was originally a palace.

The art collection includes world-renowned work by Pierro della Francesco, Raphael, Tiziano, Perugino, Berugete and more.

Coupled with the experience of walking through an Italian Renaissance palace and gazing upon some of the best artworks in the world, the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche offers a unique experience.

Any culture and art lovers travelling in Italy from October 2019 to March 2020 are fortunate, as the gallery will be exhibiting the ‘500 years of Raphael’ collection.

As 2020 marks 500 years since the death of Raphael, his art is being celebrated around the world, similar to how Leonardo Da Vinci has been spotlighted in 2019 for his anniversary year.  

The gallery has been given limited loans of some of Raphael’s most prized art, and is one of very few galleries across the globe that will host a special Raphael exhibition.

General entry is €9 for adults and the gallery is open from Monday to Sunday.

For more information visit the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche’s website.

National Museum of Cinema, Turin 

The National Museum of Cinema in Turin showcases a stunning display of Italian cinematic history. 

But the museum presents a double dose of Italian history.

Located in the Mole Antonelliana building, which was designed in 1863, visitors to the building experience what was until recently the highest masonry structure in Europe. 

The Mole Antonelliana also offers one of the most stunning views of Turin via its observation deck.

Enjoy five floors of movie history and memorabilia within the Mole Antonelliana, including movies played on repeat, photography, film costumes, and installations. 

Entry is €11 for the National Museum of Cinema and €8 to visit the observation deck, or alternatively you can visit both for €15. 

For more information visit the National Museum of Cinema’s website.

Lamborghini Museum, Bologna

Yes, for any of you car enthusiasts, Lamborghini has its own museum in Bologna.

Located next to the Lamborghini factory, the museum tells the story of the golden bull.

A range of models including the early 400 GT 2+2 1966 Lamborghini, Diablo, Gallardo, Murcielago, Huracan Performance, Aventador and more are waiting for you. 

Masterpieces often caught on movie screens, such as the iconic Countach, featured in Rain Man, can also be seen in the flesh. 

The museum has recently introduced a new driving simulator to enhance the interactive experience offered to visitors.

Take note that this will set you back €25 before entry cost. 

Pair up your visit to the museum with a Lamborghini guided factory tour, where you can see the V12 line where an Aventador’s engine and frames are produced.

The Museum is open Monday to Sunday and is €15 for adults.

Museum entry and guided factory tour is €20, or experience the Lamborghini factory without a tour guide, at your own pace, for €75. 

Make sure to check the website as factory tours are limited in August, November and December. 

For more information visit Lamborghini’s website.

Perugina Chocolate House, Perugia

Although Italy is famous for the golden wrapped Ferrero Rocher, Perugina’s silver and blue kissed Baci chocolate is just as delicious. 

Baci’s unique feature is that the chocolate is wrapped in a multilingual love note.

You can visit where it all began. 

The story of Baci Perugina is old, starting in 1907. 

The museum offers a guided tour in either English or Italian that explains the history of Perugina Chocolate and the craftsmanship of their chocolate making. 

The smell of chocolate is known to waft through the building at any given moment.

At the end of the approximate one hour tour, visitors are free to eat as many chocolates as they want.

Special one-kilogram Baci bags are also available in their souvenir shop! 

It all sounds too good to be true.

Entry is €9 for adults and the museum is open Monday to Saturday

For more information visit the Perugina Chocolate House’s website.