Monumento al Cavallino Rampante

On Maranello's eastern edge, a five-metre stainless steel prancing horse rears above its surroundings. Sculptor Helidon Xhixha donated the 800-kilogram work to the town, which set it in place on 14 October 2003, one day after Ferrari's 2003 Formula 1 title was decided: public art as victory lap.

Why it matters

The prancing horse is recognised worldwide as Ferrari's emblem, and since 2003 it has also stood in Maranello as monumental public sculpture. Xhixha, a sculptor of Albanian origin known for polished steel, gave the figure to the Comune di Maranello, and the town positioned it where the marque's everyday geography is most visible: in the eastern part of Maranello's Ferrari industrial district.

What to notice

Xhixha's faceted, mirror-like steel reflects changing light and colour. The sculpture stands in a quarter also associated with the Enzo Ferrari monument and the Strada della Storia.

Context and history

The date is precise because the sculpture was a celebration: put in place on 14 October 2003, right after the 2003 Formula 1 championship was decided, it commemorated a season of triumph and marked Maranello's eastern expansion.