Javillac
Located just forty minutes from the city of Pisa, Pontedera houses the historical museum of the Piaggio group. It is located in modern facilities of more than 5.000 square meters, where there is a collection that tells the story of the company that triumphed with its motorcycles not only in Italy, but throughout the world.
In the courtyard through which the museum is accessed there is a small plane, which remember the beginnings of Enrico Piaggio in the aeronautical industry, and it is that this was directly related to the development of the first Vespas. 
THE MOTORCYCLE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Alli you can see the prototype of the motorcycle that changed the world, the Vespa "Paperino". He was an aeronautical engineer who conceived the revolutionary configuration of the scooter that helped motorize Europe after World War II. He mounted the engine located on the rear wheel and the design of the front arm inspired by the landing gear of airplanes.
So the iconic wasp-shaped motorcycle was born in 1946, reason for which it was baptized as "Vespa". She became a symbol of Italy and an industrial triumph for the country, since more than 19 million of these scooters have been sold since then.
The success would be repeated in 1948 with the appearance of the Piaggio Ape, or bee in Italian. It was a small motorcycle, still very popular and frequent in Italian cities, and which also has its own section in the museum.
Less popular was the brand's attempt to break into the automotive sector. He Vespa 400 It was a microcar that angered Fiat, which had just released the iconic FIAT 500, and that he threatened Piaggio with launching his own scooter. The car would only be manufactured in France between 1958 and 1961, with very limited production. This makes them quite a rarity today.
All versions of the popular motorcycle are represented in the museum, as well as curiosities. From the largest Vespa in the world, created for an advertising campaign, to a Vespa transformed into a small helicopter made for an Italian movie. This is especially curious because Corradino D'Ascanio, the main engineer in the development of the Vespa, was the inventor of the modern helicopter.
They also have a wall where you can leave a sticker of a Vespa club as a memory of all the associations dedicated to this motorcycle that exist throughout the world. During our visit, we provided a sticker of the Barcelona Vespa Club.
A SPANISH VESPA IN THE MUSEUM
The Spanish representation could have been greater with the presence of a Vespino, an exclusive product of the Spanish subsidiary of the brand, Moto Vespa. In any case, the most special motorcycle in the Piaggio Museum in Italy is of Spanish origin.
Protected by an urn, a Vespa with Albacete registration and metallic paint presides over the room. this motorcycle circumnavigated the world in 79 days in 1962, when two young people, Santiago Guillén and Antonio Veciana, decided to travel more than 40.000 kilometers after seeing "Around the World in Eighty Days" at the cinema.
As if this did not make this Vespa special enough, before leaving Spain to embark on your journey Salvador Dalí and his wife Gala decorated this motorcycle with their signatures, giving it an incalculable value.
THE VESPA AND ART THE AT PIAGGIO MUSEUM OF ITALY
Many of the advertisements that adorn the walls of the museum can be considered works of art in themselves. In any case, the museum has a floor dedicated to the most artistic facet of the Vespa, with sculptures, paintings, and decorated motorcycles.
Other models of the brand such as the Ape also have decorated units in the museum. and there is also references to the many films that helped increase the success of the Vespa. Films like the legendary scene from “Holidays in Rome”, with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, symbol of the “sweet life".
as i remember visitors can emulate a similar image with a photocall located at the museum entrance. There a Vespa with a sidecar is available for visitors to take a souvenir photo with them. And that is not the only souvenir, the store is full of all kinds of souvenirs related to this motorcycle, with exclusive scale models or books recounting the history of the brand.
A SPACE FOR GILERA, APRILIA, MOTO GUZZI AND LAVERDA
Another large part of the museum is dedicated to the other motorcycle brands of the Piaggio group. Most of these are the Gilera, manufacturer whose origin dates back to 1909, and which was bought by Piaggio in 1969. Many of these motorcycles add a touch of sportiness to the collection, as well as some of the oldest parts of it.
It is in this area where motorcycles of all kinds are concentrated. We are talking from mopeds manufactured by Piaggio, to MotoGP and Trial units from brands such as Gilera, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi, manufacturers that together have more than 100 world titles in different categories.
The museum It is a must visit for any motorcycle lover or this Italian icon, but until that trip materializes, Piaggio has a virtual tour Very complete in your collection.
Lastly, thank the Piaggio Museum for its attention and kindness for opening its doors to the group of friends who toured Italy in their classic cars.
Photographs by Javier Ramiro, Javier Molina and Erik Alarma.
