MODENA | EMILIA ROMAGNA

Discover Modena

Modena is the capital of the province of the same name and has about 20,000 inhabitants.
Modena was the capital of the duchy of Este from 1598 to 1859, when it became part of the Kingdom of Italy.
The beauty of its historical centre is undisputed, so much so that the Cathedral, the Civic Tower and Piazza Grande have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Modena’s Cathedral and Civic Tower are monuments much loved by Modena’s citizens. In 1099 the clergy and people unanimously decided to rebuild the church destined to hold the tomb of S. Geminiano, the city’s patron saint. The Cathedral is commonly called S. Geminiano’s House.

Modena’s Town Hall is located on the beautiful Piazza Grande. The Town Hall is the result of the restructuring of pre-existing buildings, the oldest dating from 1046. The Clock Tower is very distinctive; inside are valuable sixteenth-century frescoes, paintings and ceilings.

Don’t leave Modena before seeing Montese. Montese is a typical town nestling in a beautiful green area.
Montese’s historical centre contains many art treasures such as the crenellated fortress tower, the Oratorio del Poggio, the open-air museum, the wooden cross in the village of Maserno, and magnificent frescoes in the villages of Riva and Monteforte.

We can’t talk about Modena without mentioning in these lines its speciality: balsamic vinegar. Modena’s traditional balsamic vinegar is certainly unique in the world for its expertly balanced sweet-sour taste. A Modena tradition, balsamic vinegar goes with many dishes, both as an unusual or more traditional accompaniment. It’s excellent for seasoning salads or with meat, and unexpectedly good with peaches and strawberries.