Holiday apartment in Modena: Cathedral, museums and trails

Modena combines impressive architecture with museums, historic squares and varied trails. Modena Cathedral is an outstanding example of 12th-century Early Romanesque art. The Ghirlandina is the towering civic tower of Modena’s World Heritage Site. Piazza Grande is located on the historic Via Emilia in the medieval centre of Modena.

Culture and history

The Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti is the singer’s home built in the countryside around Modena, where he spent the final years of his life. The house is still preserved as the maestro left it, can be visited in its entirety and comprises 12 rooms across four floors. The Casa Museo was opened to the public in 2015. At Parco Montale, the tours include demonstrations of traditional crafts and workshops for children about the world of the Terramare.

Museums

The Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena opened to the public on 10 March 2012. It preserves the original home and mechanical workshop in the house where Enzo Ferrari was born in 1898. The design of the new exhibition gallery recalls the bonnet of historic racing cars. Complementing it, the Museo del Duomo displays art-historical and liturgical objects from the Romanesque period through the 19th century.

Trails

The trails also have clearly distinguishable forms. The Anello dei Sassi is an 8.5-kilometre, two-and-a-half-hour hiking trail from Pieve di Trebbio to Pieve di Trebbio. The Percorso Natura begins at the Sant'Ambrogio bridge in Modena Est and leads for almost 34 kilometres to Casona di Marano sul Panaro; it can be used on foot or by bicycle.

An approximately 48-kilometre hiking trail leads from Casona di Marano to Monte Belvedere near Montese and can be used on foot, on horseback or by bicycle. The recommended trails in Modena include paved routes for pedestrians and various wheeled means of transport, including bicycles, scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Regional specialities

The Museo dell'Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale in Spilamberto presents all stages of balsamic vinegar production – from selecting the vineyards and making the barrels through the grape harvest, pressing and cooking the must to the vinegar cellar. The museum offers guided tours in Italian and English every day during opening hours at 10:45, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:30. Reservations are strongly recommended on weekdays and are required at least one day in advance on weekends and public holidays.

Nature

A wetland with water areas that has been restored to a more natural state in recent years is home to various rare bird species and is suitable for birdwatching. Methane in the subsoil escaping through ground fissures creates flows of salty mud lava and small volcanoes with craters, explosions and gas emissions. An area of natural interest comprises farmland, sand and gravel pits, as well as areas for water sports, and provides a habitat for various bird species.

Other places

Montagnana, Soliera, Pievepelago, Querciagrossa, Sestola, Fiumalbo, Solignano Nuovo, Sassuolo, Pozza, Maranello, Fiorano Modenese, Castelvetro Di Modena, Castelfranco Emilia, Carpi, Campogalliano, Ca Di Sola, Fanano, Faidello, Casoni, Frassinoro, San Cesario Sul Panaro, San Prospero, Cavezzo, Madonna Della Provvidenza, Formigine, Zocca, Riolunato, Vignola, Bastiglia, Finale Emilia, Mirandola, Castelnuovo Rangone, Sorbara, San Felice Sul Panaro, Serramazzoni, Cortile, Savignano Sul Panaro, Panzano, Nonantola, Montecreto, Pavullo Nel Frignano, Medolla, Bomporto, Polinago, Lama Mocogno, Montefiorino, Palagano, San Donnino, Ponte Gombola, Lesignana, Ganaceto, Colombaro, Romanoro, Guiglia, Disvetro, Casa Marchetti, Torre Maina, Dogaro, Casumaro, Novi di Modena, Le Tagliole, Fontanaluccia, Casa Pisa, Ravarino, Rovereto sul Secchia

To the higher-level travel overview: Emilia-Romagna.