Pilgrimage to the Home of Moto Guzzi

The shimmering waters of Lake Como in Northern Italy set the perfect scene for a recent family vacation, even if it felt a bit like coordinating a global summit. My adult children and their families, converged with me and my wife on this picturesque corner of the world after trekking all the way from New Zealand, the UK and the United States. While I eagerly anticipated lakeside strolls, endless pasta, and gelato-fueled afternoons (which were, in fact, all superb), a more personal, slightly obsessive excitement brewed within me: a pilgrimage to Mandello del Lario, the hallowed home of Moto Guzzi.

Located a mere 40 kilometers from our Lake Como base—practically next door in Italian terms—the Moto Guzzi Museum became a surprising hit. I'd talked it up so much, waxing poetic about two-wheeled Italian artistry, that even the kids, initially more interested in Wi-Fi signals than horsepower, caught the bug. Everyone was suddenly keen to visit the museum, see the famous red factory Moto Guzzi door, and especially check out the V11 Sport model on display. Why? Because I'd relentlessly informed them it was identical to the one I proudly owned back in the States. After all, seeing is believing, especially when your dad's bragging rights are on the line! What I didn't know was that the museum also had a Griso identical to the one I owned back in 2013 and rode across Route 66. So, it was a sort of two-for-one for the kids!

The company's story began on March 15, 1921, when 'Società Anonima Moto Guzzi' was founded in Genoa. Its official purpose was charmingly formal: "the fabrication and sale of motorcycles and all other activities pertinent or correlated to the metal working and mechanical engineering industries." The partners were Emanuele Vittorio Parodi, a renowned Genoese ship owner, his son Giorgio Parodi, and their friend Carlo Guzzi. Guzzi was a former comrade of Parodi's in the Italian Air Corps, as was another friend, Giovanni Ravelli, who tragically died in 1919 during a test flight. In a touching (and incredibly cool) tribute, the spread-winged eagle motif (the Naval Aviators Coat of Arms) was chosen for the Moto Guzzi badge in Ravelli's memory. The company's first motorcycle, built in Mandello del Lario, was the legendary 8 horsepower Normale. The rest, as they say, is history.

The museum itself is incredible, a veritable treasure trove for anyone with even a passing interest in two wheels. It showcases over 100 years of Italian development and engineering, proving that Italians really do have an eye for style and color! More than 200 motorcycles are on full display, each a gleaming testament to a century of design, speed and two wheeled adventures. Even the gift shop was impressive! Got myself a new hat, shirt and a box set of lapel pins. What I should have bought was a new 2025 V100 Mandello.

Home of Moto Guzzi - Mandello del Lario