The Classic visit to Modena

The heart of the city since the Middle Ages Piazza Grande offers our first sight of the splendid Cathedral, (the Piazza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site), with its tower of the “Ghirlandina”, it is a jewel of Romanesque architecture.

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The reliefs by Wiligelmo on the façade, which decorate the entrance and the splendid metopes kept in the diocesan Museum, allow you to appreciate the sculptural evolution which took place in the 12th century in this area of Italy. Inside the Cathedral, you will see the highly regarded work of the artist Lanfranco. It opens splendid pages in the history of the art of medieval times to the visitor.

Also on the piazza is the Palace of the Comune (the seat of government) of medieval origin, with rooms frescoed by Nicolò dell'Abate (The “Sala del fuoco” - the “Room of Fire) from the 16th century and other pictorial works of the subsequent centuries.



You will also see the “pietra ringadora”,  a huge piece of granite, once used for haranguing the crowd but also to punish debtors, situated in the northeast corner of the piazza it reveals the strong bond of this square with its past.Another figure dear to the people of Modena is the statue of the "Bonissima", now situated in the south east corner of the porticos. It has been moved frequently, its original position and the identity of the artist is unknown.

However Modena was also the capital of a Dukedom and of course there is the Duke’s Palace, home of the Este family for more than two centuries, today it is the Army Military Academy.

Piazza Roma, is dominated by the palace and its centrepiece is the statue of Ciro Menotti; facing it is the church of St. Domenico which contains a prestigious sculpture by Antonio Begarelli and, a little further on is the façade of the Baroque church of St. Giorgio.

Walking through the porticos that cover good part of the historical centre you are able to admire this lovely city and its courtyards of noble residences.

And more

Inside the Palazzo dei Musei (the Museum Building), originally a great hostel for the poor of Modena (founded by the Este family) you will find:

• The Este Gallery: home to some of the great collections of the Dukes of Modena, from the sale of 100 masterpieces by Francis III. you can admire the works of artists such as Bernini, Correggio, Nicolò dell'Abate , Mazzoni, Begarelli, El Greco, Velasquez, Backs, Guercino and others.
• The Museo lapidario: collected together and housed in this part is the evidence  of Modena’s Roman past and that of the surrounding area.
• The Civic Museum: divided into sections for archaeology, medieval and modern art and the Gandini collection of over 2,000 fragments and samples of textiles produced between the 11th and 12th centuries.
• The Este Library: worth the visit if only to admire the bible of Borso d'Este, a beautiful illustrated bible produced in Ferrara midway through the 1400s.

Church of San Vincenzo:  The Pantheon of the Este family, which houses the bones of 16 Dukes of the dynasty, in the funeral Chapel.
Church of Sant'Agostino: originally planned as the Este family Pantheon which was eventually built in San Vincenzo, the church adjoining the Building of the Museums, is decorated inside in the Baroque style with statues and figures supporting the upper balustrade.
Church and Monastery of San Pietro: founded by the Benedictines in the 10th century, inside there are five aisles. The central aisle is watched over by terracotta statues - the work of Anthony Begarelli who is buried here. Also open to the public is the splendid Renaissance style cloister.

For further information please contact:
e.mail info@itineraemilia.it
Tel. + 39 327 74 69 902