The Italian automaker Maserati is turning a historic milestone into a television event. Produced by EtraLab in partnership with Rai Documentaries, the three-part series Il Secolo del Tridente will air on Rai 2 on Sunday 11, 18 and 25 October 2026 at 14:00, with on-demand access via RaiPlay. The programme is designed to celebrate the first hundred years of the Tridente emblem, a symbol that first appeared on the Tipo 26 in 1926 and has since become synonymous with Italian motoring excellence.
From Bologna’s workshop to the birth of the Tridente
The narrative begins in 1914, when the Società Anonima Officine Alfieri Maserati opened its doors in Bologna. While the Maserati brothers were renowned engineers, it was Mario Maserati – the sole sibling who did not work on engines – who supplied the artistic spark. Inspired by the Fontana del Nettuno that crowns the city’s central square, Mario sketched the three-pronged design that would later adorn every Maserati vehicle. The emblem debuted on the Tipo 26, which on 25 April 1926 tackled the legendary Targa Florio under the helm of Alfieri Maserati, securing a class win and an impressive eighth place This triumph forged an enduring link between the Tridente and competition.
Rome’s Dolce Vita and the rise of the Italian Grand Turismo
The second episode transports the viewer to post-war Rome, a stage set by the economic boom and the glamour of the “Dolce Vita.” Maserati cars became status symbols for the jet-set, attracting icons such as actor Marcello Mastroianni and actress Audrey Hepburn. It was in this era that the brand refined its interpretation of the Gran Turismo – a vehicle that blended high performance, long-distance comfort and unmistakable elegance. The series shows how the racing pedigree honed on circuits like the Targa Florio was translated into road-going machines that defined Italian style for generations.
Modena’s industrial heart and the preservation of heritage
The final chapter arrives in Modena, where the company relocated in 1939 and inaugurated its historic plant on Viale Ciro Menotti on 1 January 1940. The factory has since been the cradle of numerous legendary models, thanks to the work of successive generations of engineers, craftsmen and designers. Today, the Museum Maserati – Collezione Umberto Panini safeguards a priceless collection of rare vehicles, offering a tangible link to the brand’s centennial saga.
Voices that shaped a century
Beyond machines and milestones, the docuseries foregrounds the people who lived the story. Interviews feature Ettore Maserati grandson of the co-founder, who provides a familial perspective; Matteo Panini custodian of the museum’s collection; Ermanno Cozza a veteran of the 1950s racing department; and Andrea Bertolini Maserati’s current reference driver and racing advisor. Their recollections are complemented by insights from veteran journalist Carlo Cavicchi and iconic photographer Rino Barillari whose images captured the glamour of the era.
From track to road: a philosophy that endured
The series does not shy away from the brand’s challenges. It chronicles how competitive victories in events such as the Targa Florio and later Formula 1 seasons were leveraged to develop road-going technology, illustrating the from track to road ethos that remains central to Maserati’s DNA. CEO Santo Ficili of Alfa Romeo and Maserati is quoted: “We celebrate the first hundred years of the Tridente, a symbol born in 1926 within a story that began in Bologna in 1914. It is an inheritance built by generations of people, and it continues to inspire our future.”
By weaving together race-track drama, cinematic allure and industrial craftsmanship, Il Secolo del Tridente offers a comprehensive portrait of a brand that has mirrored Italy’s own cultural and technological evolution for more than a century.
