Il Historical Museum of the Military Motorization of the Rome Army was previously housed in extremely limited exhibition spaces; in 1991 it was transferred to its current location, after the recovery of existing infrastructures, in an area of about 50,000 sqm, very articulated, with wide avenues, extensive green areas, and volumes with a “card” structure, typical of the early century, once used for educational activities of the Military Motorization School.
The complex houses more than three hundred units between vintage civilian and military cars and trucks, sixty between tracked vehicles, armored and protected vehicles, and sixty vintage motorcycles.
Among the six exhibition pavilions, the one dedicated to the “Gold Medal Arturo Mercanti” stands out, where the Directorate is located, a library-archive with data and technical sheets related to many motor vehicles entrusted to the Army, from origins to the present day, as well as photographic and documentary material, and a large wall map showing the dynamic maneuver carried out by General Cadorna in Trentino in 1916, characterized by the first massive use of motor transport.
In addition to some animal-drawn carts from 1914 and 1916, the Museum counts pieces of great value and historical importance, such as the Fiat 18 BL, Fiat 15 Ter, and Spa 38 trucks, as well as two light aircraft Piper L 18 and L 21 B, a Fiat 501 Torpedo, a fast tank L3, an M 15-42 tank and a P 40 tank, a very rare 1942 Lancia Astura Lince armored car, a Spa Dovunque 35 truck, a 1910 Fiat 513 model 4, used by Vittorio Emanuele III for movements on the front of the First World War, and the famous ambulance from the film “Farewell to Arms,” a 1910 Fiat type 2.
The Cecchignola location is situated in the southern outskirts of Rome, a short distance from the Eur district where the Museum of Roman Civilization, the Palace of Labor Civilization, and the church of Saints Peter and Paul can be visited.
