If you happen to be in the neighbourhood of Mandello del Lario
- Thread starter guzzirider
- Start date
Honestly, any day, any time of day, just pass by. It's never a bad time.
The first time I went there was nothing and no one. I hung around by the red gate for a while, and eventually another traveler showed up, from the UK I think, on some Moto Guzzi older than I was. He looked at me like I was George Jetson in his little hover craft, with my comparatively futuristic 2011 BMW 650cc thumper lol. This was my first time crossing paths with another native english speaking motorcycle traveler after crossing most of Italy. We chatted like old friends.
I couldn't find anyone 'official' to talk to, answer a phone, or anything, so I decided to ride around until I found another entrance and gate, a bit more commercial looking. The sign said not to enter in Italian, so I played stupid. Sure enough security came out and approached me right away. From him I learned where and when to return for the museum tour. Which was exactly what I wanted to happen.
I went back the next day with the missus and did the museum tour. Many more tourists this time, Guzzisti who arrived from the train that unloads across the street, though there's no access from the train station to the factory without going the long way around the block. Bushes with little white flowers are common in front of homes in Mandello del Lario, so in May and June the whole town has a natural sweet scent in the air... but dress for the heat.
Last year I went back, on my way back from the Alps, to meet with the missus in Milan. She had just finished walking around the outside of the Mont Blanc on foot. Some people like to do things the hard way. Probably why she's with me. The detour to the red gate was a little harder this time because of all of the construction happening around the factory and road work being done, but it was worth it.
It was a weekday, one of the middle of the week ones, but when I got to the red gate there was some kind of entire vintage Moto Guzzi parade about to take off. I saw dozens of vintage Guzzis from all eras all out front, everyone in high spirits with their shined up eyecandymobiles. They don't do any of the old timey dress up ******** that we do in North America. It wasn't some cosplay event like the DGR. These are just normal people who ride vintage bikes...
It made sense for Moto Guzzi. The brand's bikes aren't pretending to be anything. They are authentic, they are genuine, they are the real deal. They don't have to play pretend. I stuck around long enough to watch them all leave, until they were out of ear shot, and then I continued to Milan.
My bike is currently in Milan, only about 1.5 hours away from Mandello, but with the car accident last summer, concussion still lingering, and possible upcoming surgery, I'm in no shape for any kind of touring any time soon...
If you happen to be in the neighbourhood, there is never a bad time to pass by the Guzzi factory.
The first time I went there was nothing and no one. I hung around by the red gate for a while, and eventually another traveler showed up, from the UK I think, on some Moto Guzzi older than I was. He looked at me like I was George Jetson in his little hover craft, with my comparatively futuristic 2011 BMW 650cc thumper lol. This was my first time crossing paths with another native english speaking motorcycle traveler after crossing most of Italy. We chatted like old friends.
I couldn't find anyone 'official' to talk to, answer a phone, or anything, so I decided to ride around until I found another entrance and gate, a bit more commercial looking. The sign said not to enter in Italian, so I played stupid. Sure enough security came out and approached me right away. From him I learned where and when to return for the museum tour. Which was exactly what I wanted to happen.
I went back the next day with the missus and did the museum tour. Many more tourists this time, Guzzisti who arrived from the train that unloads across the street, though there's no access from the train station to the factory without going the long way around the block. Bushes with little white flowers are common in front of homes in Mandello del Lario, so in May and June the whole town has a natural sweet scent in the air... but dress for the heat.
Last year I went back, on my way back from the Alps, to meet with the missus in Milan. She had just finished walking around the outside of the Mont Blanc on foot. Some people like to do things the hard way. Probably why she's with me. The detour to the red gate was a little harder this time because of all of the construction happening around the factory and road work being done, but it was worth it.
It was a weekday, one of the middle of the week ones, but when I got to the red gate there was some kind of entire vintage Moto Guzzi parade about to take off. I saw dozens of vintage Guzzis from all eras all out front, everyone in high spirits with their shined up eyecandymobiles. They don't do any of the old timey dress up ******** that we do in North America. It wasn't some cosplay event like the DGR. These are just normal people who ride vintage bikes...
It made sense for Moto Guzzi. The brand's bikes aren't pretending to be anything. They are authentic, they are genuine, they are the real deal. They don't have to play pretend. I stuck around long enough to watch them all leave, until they were out of ear shot, and then I continued to Milan.
My bike is currently in Milan, only about 1.5 hours away from Mandello, but with the car accident last summer, concussion still lingering, and possible upcoming surgery, I'm in no shape for any kind of touring any time soon...
If you happen to be in the neighbourhood, there is never a bad time to pass by the Guzzi factory.
