Modena

A capital of Emilian food and supercars, where a Romanesque cathedral and its main square are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, balsamic vinegar workshops and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese scent the air, and nearby Maranello is the home of Ferrari.

Modena lies in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, on the Po Valley plain between Bologna and Parma. It is the birthplace of traditional balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Lambrusco wine and tortellini, and the home base of supercar makers Ferrari, Maserati and Pagani. The historic center is anchored by the UNESCO-listed Modena Cathedral, the Ghirlandina tower and Piazza Grande. A short walk takes you to the Municipal Palace, the Albinelli Market, the Palazzo Ducale and the Galleria Estense. Near the train station is the Enzo Ferrari Museum. About 17 km south, the town of Maranello is home to Ferrari's headquarters and its museum.

The best seasons are April to June and September to October, with autumn bringing the grape and balsamic vinegar harvest. July and August are hot and muggy, and many restaurants close in mid-August. Winters are often foggy.

Suggested itinerary: On day one, stroll the old town, climb the tower and visit the markets, then have tortellini and gnocco fritto for dinner. On day two, visit the Ferrari museum in Maranello in the morning, and in the afternoon tour a balsamic vinegar producer or visit Pavarotti's former home.

Nearby Carpi, Vignola, Sassuolo and Nonantola can each be visited as a half-day trip.

Getting there: Trains from Bologna take about 20 to 30 minutes, and from Milan about 1 to 1.5 hours. A shuttle bus connects the two Ferrari museums. For the countryside workshops and factories, a rental car or a private driver is recommended. Plan to stay 1 to 2 days.

Top sights

• Museo Ferrari, Maranello – The official museum in Maranello, where Ferrari’s headquarters is located. It displays historic F1 race cars and classic sports cars and is…
• Modena Cathedral & Piazza Grande – A UNESCO-listed Romanesque cathedral, the Ghirlandina Tower, and Piazza Grande. The city is also the heart of Italy’s balsamic vinegar regi…
• Enzo Ferrari Museum, Modena – A museum next to Enzo Ferrari’s birthplace. Its exhibition hall, shaped like Ferrari’s yellow bonnet, displays classic sports cars and engi…
• Ghirlandina Tower – A Romanesque bell tower about 86 m tall beside Modena Cathedral. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of the city, it offers…
• Palazzo Comunale, Modena – The town hall on one side of Piazza Grande. A part of the World Heritage Site, it offers free access to its historic halls and the original…
• Galleria Estense (Palazzo dei Musei) – The heart of the Este family’s art collection. It holds Velázquez’s portrait of Francesco I and Bernini’s bust, making it Modena’s most imp…
• Ducal Palace of Modena – A Baroque palace built by the Dukes of Este from the 17th century. It now houses Italy’s military academy, and its interior is open for gui…
• Mercato Albinelli – A food market built in 1931 beside Piazza Grande, with an iron-and-glass roof. Visitors can buy balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano, and ham, and…
• Osteria Francescana – A three-Michelin-star restaurant run by chef Massimo Bottura. It has twice topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and is a pilgrimage…
• Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti – The countryside villa where tenor Luciano Pavarotti lived in his later years. It displays stage costumes, awards, and personal belongings…
• Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti – A neoclassical opera house completed in 1841 where Pavarotti once made his debut. It is now named after him and hosts operas and concerts d…
• Traditional Balsamic Vinegar Museum, Spilamberto – A museum in the home of the Modena traditional balsamic vinegar guild, explaining how vinegar aged at least 12 years is made, with tastings…
• Abbey of Nonantola – A Benedictine abbey founded in the 8th century, with finely carved Romanesque church portals and an underground crypt with more than sixty…
• Piazza dei Martiri & Castello dei Pio, Carpi – One of Italy’s largest squares, surrounded by a Renaissance arcade, a cathedral, and the Pio family castle. It makes a half-day trip to a s…
• Rocca di Vignola – A medieval castle beside the Panaro River, with 15th-century frescoes preserved inside. Entry is free, and the town is famous for its cherr…
• Ducal Palace of Sassuolo – The Baroque summer palace of the Este family. Its walls are covered in trompe-l’oeil frescoes and its garden fountains are well preserved…
• Castelvetro di Modena – A medieval wine village on the hills south of Modena, where chessboard-patterned squares and towers overlook vineyards. It is the home of L…
• Pagani Museum & Factory – The headquarters of Pagani, a hypercar maker known for handcrafted cars. The museum displays the Zonda and Huayra series, and factory tours…
• Maserati Showroom & Factory, Modena – Maserati’s headquarters in Modena since 1940. The showroom displays the latest models, and factory tours with a look at the MC20 production…

Where to eat

• Osteria Francescana – Massimo Bottura's three-Michelin-star restaurant, twice named the World's Best Restaurant, reinventing traditional Mode…
• Trattoria Aldina – An old-school lunch spot upstairs in the Albinelli covered market. There is no written menu, the day's dishes are recit…
• Ristorante da Danilo – A lively old-school place a short walk from Piazza Grande, known for tortelli in brodo and a trolley of boiled meats. O…
• Trattoria Il Fantino – A budget-friendly trattoria at the foot of the Ghirlandina bell tower, famous for Modenese crescentine served with cure…

Itineraries

• Bologna to Parma Food Valley – Travel along the Via Emilia by train to feast through Bologna, Modena, and Parma, with a side trip to the Ferrari Museu…