Modena is a compact, prosperous city in Emilia-Romagna that has given the world traditional balsamic vinegar, Enzo Ferrari and Luciano Pavarotti. Its centre is small enough to cross on foot in a quarter of an hour, yet it holds a Romanesque cathedral that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here are the facts and stories that make it special.
10 fun facts about Modena
- A World Heritage trio: the cathedral, its bell tower, the Ghirlandina, and Piazza Grande have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
- A cathedral signed by its makers: work began in 1099 under the architect Lanfranco, and inscriptions on the building name both him and the sculptor Wiligelmo, whose Genesis reliefs decorate the façade.
- King Arthur in Modena: the arch over the cathedral's Porta della Pescheria shows knights storming a castle to free a lady, with one rider labelled Artus de Bretania. Carved in the early 12th century, it is one of the oldest known images of the Arthurian legend.
- A tower with a garland: the Ghirlandina, about 86 metres tall, was completed in 1319 with an octagonal spire by Enrico da Campione. Its name probably comes from the marble balustrades that ring its top like garlands.
- Official measures in stone: on the side of the cathedral facing Piazza Grande, the city's standard sizes for bricks, roof tiles and units of length are carved into the wall, so that buyers could check what they were sold.
- The Bonissima: a small medieval statue of a woman on the corner of the Palazzo Comunale is one of Modena's symbols. Nobody knows for sure who she is: tradition sees a noblewoman who fed the poor, or a symbol of honest trade.
- Two singers, one wet nurse: Luciano Pavarotti and the soprano Mirella Freni were both born in Modena in 1935 and, as the story goes, shared the same wet nurse. The city's opera house is now named after both of them.
- Ferrari's home town: Enzo Ferrari was born in Modena in 1898, and the Museo Enzo Ferrari includes the house where he was born. Maserati moved here from Bologna in 1940 and is still based in the city.
- A ducal capital: when Ferrara passed to the Papal States in 1598, the Este dukes moved their court to Modena. Their huge Ducal Palace, begun in 1634, now houses Italy's Military Academy.
- Balsamic takes patience: Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP is aged for at least 12 years in a series of wooden barrels, and the extravecchio for at least 25.
The stolen bucket
In 1325 Modena defeated Bologna at the Battle of Zappolino. According to the story, the Modenese chased the fleeing Bolognese all the way to their city and carried off a wooden bucket from a well as a trophy. The bucket became a symbol of local pride and was kept for centuries in the Ghirlandina, where a copy is still on show; the original is kept in the Palazzo Comunale. In the early 17th century the poet Alessandro Tassoni turned the episode into La secchia rapita, a mock-epic about a war fought over a bucket, and the two cities still joke about it.
Piazza Grande, explained
Piazza Grande has been the heart of Modena since the Middle Ages, framed by the side of the cathedral, the Palazzo Comunale and the foot of the Ghirlandina. Next to the town hall lies the Preda Ringadora, a large marble block that once served as a platform for public speakers and, in harsher times, as a place where debtors were exposed to public shame.
What to eat in Modena
- Tigelle: small round flatbreads baked in a hot mould and filled with cured meats, cheese or a spread of lard, garlic and rosemary.
- Gnocco fritto: puffy pillows of fried dough, served warm with salumi.
- Tortellini in brodo: tiny filled pasta in a rich meat broth, a dish both Modena and Bologna claim as their own.
- Zampone and cotechino: Modena's pork specialities, both with PGI status, traditionally eaten with lentils on New Year's Eve.
- Lambrusco: the local sparkling red wine, served cool; Lambrusco di Sorbara comes from the countryside just north of the city.
Good to know before you go
- To see how traditional balsamic is made, book a visit to an acetaia, the attic or loft where families keep their barrels. Many are just outside the city.
- The inside of the Ghirlandina can only be visited with a timed reservation, in small groups, so book ahead.
- Ferrari fans can pair the Museo Enzo Ferrari in Modena with the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, a short drive south.
- The covered Mercato Albinelli, open since 1931, is a good place to see and taste local produce.
Explore Modena with World City Trail
Our Modena scavenger hunt turns these sights into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 23 minutes of walking, and leads you to places such as the Ducal Gardens and the tribute to Luciano Pavarotti.
At each stop you solve a puzzle and hear a short story, at your own pace. You can start whenever you like and play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Dutch.
Play the Modena scavenger hunt →
Facts checked in October 2026.