Salsapariglia Collection

The Salsapariglia Collection is one of those places capable of surprising anyone who steps through its doors: a unique private collection that houses 150 vintage motorcycles dating from 1898, 100 agricultural and industrial engines from 1900, 100 gramophones, phonographs and vintage radios, 19th-century bicycles, rare Lesa tractors and even the iconic Sabart chainsaws.
A true immersion in the history of mechanics and technology from the late 19th to the 20th century, made possible by the incredible passion of Nello Salsapariglia, who has spent a lifetime collecting, restoring and showcasing machines and tools that bear witness to human ingenuity.
Inside the modern building, accessible and equipped with a lift, a fascinating journey unfolds: historical photographs and original settings accompany the visit, while audio and video guides in Italian and English make the experience even more engaging.

A museum that tells the story of the birth of motorization.

The exhibition leads visitors on a journey to discover the origins of modern mobility. It begins with the earliest experiments involving agricultural engines and bicycles and continues up to the extraordinary evolution of the motorcycle.

Vintage motorcycles

This is the largest and most spectacular section: from the earliest petrol-powered motorcycles, such as the extremely rare 1900 Laurint & Clement, to the major international and Italian brands – Wanderer, Frera, Harley-Davidson, Indian, Guzzi, Norton, Gilera and Bianchi.
Among the most curious pieces, alongside the much-loved Vespa and Lambretta, is an extremely rare Fiat scooter, the only one of its kind.
There is no shortage of racing motorbikes that have made history, such as the Guzzi 500cc, Gilera Saturno, Frera 250cc and Bianchi 500cc, right up to the Japanese motorbikes of the 1970s.

Vintage bicycles

A journey back to the origins of cycling: bicycles from 1870, models with wooden wheels and ingenious designs that foreshadow the modern bicycle.

Lesa agricultural engines and tractors

The collection features numerous engines produced in the Reggio Emilia area between 1900 and the following decades, which were used for everyday agricultural activities.
Also on display is the extraordinary series of Lesa tractors, designed and built by Salsapariglia itself in the 1950s and 1960s.

Chainsaws and Italian mechanical engineering

A section dedicated to the inventions and machines created by Nello Salsapariglia himself, showcasing his talent and design skills.

Former Officine Meccaniche Reggiane

There is also a tribute to the historic Officine Meccaniche Reggiane, featuring precision instruments and aeronautical components that showcase the region’s technological excellence.

The Music Room

A setting steeped in nostalgia is home to gramophones, radios and phonographs, all in perfect working order: from Edison’s early experiments to wartime radios, right through to Ducati and Marelli radios and portable gramophones for day trips. An unforgettable journey through sound.

Why visit it?

The Salsapariglia Collection is perfect for:

• Enthusiasts of mechanics, engines and historic vehicles
  A journey that thrills and surprises, filled with rare and impeccably preserved exhibits

• For those who love the rural history of Emilia
  Agricultural engines, tractors and tools show how the land was worked over a century ago.

• Lovers of vintage and nostalgia
  Gramophones, radios, bicycles and period settings transport visitors back to a world that has now disappeared.

• Families, schools and groups
  The exhibition is enriched with multimedia content and intuitive explanations, perfect for an educational experience.