Photo: Mongolo1984 · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Modena
Balsamic, a Romanesque cathedral and Ferrari.
Home of balsamic vinegar, Pavarotti and Ferrari, with a Romanesque cathedral and leaning tower that are World Heritage. A food-lover's stop, half an hour from Bologna.
Places to see
- Modena CathedralChurch · A pale stone Romanesque cathedral covered in carved stories from Genesis, with a raised…Free
Mercato AlbinelliMarket · A covered market under an iron-and-glass roof, with stalls of Parmigiano, cured meats,…Free
Enzo Ferrari MuseumMuseum · A sweeping yellow roof shaped like a car bonnet over a hall of classic Ferraris and…≈ A$47
Piazza Grande
When to go
- Jan5° / -2°Some rainQuiet
- Feb8° / -1°Some rainQuiet
- Mar14° / 3°Some rainBusy
- Apr18° / 7°Some rainBusy
- May23° / 12°Some rainBusy
- Jun28° / 16°Some rainBusy
- Jul31° / 18°Mostly dryBusy
- Aug30° / 18°Some rainQuiet
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
The centre. Piazza Grande, the cathedral, the market and the old streets around them.
Near the station. Enzo Ferrari's house and museum, and budget rooms close to the trains.
Flying in
Bologna Marconi (BLQ): Marconi Express to Bologna Centrale, then a train to Modena, about 55 min, ≈ A$30.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Modena; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
You can walk everywhere. A single ticket is ≈ A$3. The centre is small and flat. Buses run from the station to the Ferrari museum in Maranello (check).
Tourist tax
Modena's city tax: usually about €1.50–2.50 a person a night in hostels and B&Bs, more in hotels, for the first nights; under-14s don't pay. Paid at check-in (check).
Day trips
Bologna, about 25 min by regional train. Italy's food capital.
