Modena

Modena is a town of the Emilia-Romagna Region, in the middle of northern Italy.

Understand
The town is well-known all over the world, especially for some famous people who were born and lived here such as Enzo Ferrari and Luciano Pavarotti, and for some of its gastronomical products, such as tortellini, Lambrusco wine, balsamic vinegar, and Parmesan cheese.

It is a town that, since the 1970s, has become one of the richest and most socially advanced in Italy: 77 km of cycling paths, 16 cinemas, 25 libraries, and one of the oldest universities in Europe. It sits at the crossroads between the Brenner motorway and the Autostrada del Sole, 40 km from the important railway and airport node of Bologna. Tourists from all over the world visit the art treasures in Modena: the 12th-century cathedral and masterpieces of Italian Romanesque art, that together with the Piazza Grande and the Ghirlandina tower, create a complex of unique beauty, included by UNESCO in the "World Heritage list".

By plane
The nearest airport is Bologna Guglielmo Marconi, 8 km from Bologna city and 40 km from Modena. A direct SACA bus runs every two hours from the airport to Modena, taking 50 min, fare €15 single or €25 return, buy on the bus. Otherwise travel via Bologna city centre.

You could also fly into Milan, which has many budget flights and good onward transport..

By train
Fast trains run hourly from Milan, taking 75 min via Parma and Reggio Emilia, and continuing from Modena to Bologna, for trains to Rome. A regional train from Milan stops at Codogno, Piacenza, Fidenza, Parma and Fidenza but is overtaken by the following fast train.

is 500 m north of city centre. There's no left-luggage office.

By car
The town can be reached by motorway A1 Milano-Napoli. Exit Modena Nord (5km from the town centre) or Modena Sud (10 km from the town centre). The town is at the south end of motorway A22.

By public transit


Modena is well served by a trolleybus service, one of the largest in Italy, composed of 3 lines, and a bus service. All public transport is provided by SETA.

Urban public transport run from 06:00-21:00. The night urban line 7N runs from 20:30-22:30. Extra-urban buses run through the surrounding province at many different times and on many different routes.

Tickets can be bought directly on the bus (automatic ticket machine), outside the railway station or at the autostazione (also on the mobile app Roger of Tper spa).

Mi Muovo is an integrated public transport pass for the region. Short-stay visitors might use "Mi Muovo Multibus", a 12-trip bus ticket, see Emilia Romagna.

By car
Modena is crossed by a major road, the Via Emilia, a historic Roman road that connected Modena with other important towns and cities of the region, and that still represents one of the main traffic ways in Italy. The road runs through the middle of the town, in an east-west direction.

The historic centre of the town is a restricted area (ZTL), meaning only residents, commercial operators, or tourists staying at hotels in the centre and with a special permit can go there. Access is regulated by an automated system, named Modena City Pass, which allows local police to monitor cars and motorbikes through a network of webcams placed at access points. These webcams are always on and continuously register the number plates of passing cars, sending the information to a control and alerting system.

In other areas, parking is in part free (identified by a white line) and in part with fee (blue line); the amount of the fee depends on the city area. Payments can be made with coins by nearby park meters. On Sundays and public holidays parking is free. Alternatively, payments can be made with a prepaid card (€20), purchased at ACI (Automobil Club Italia) offices or at some tobacconists in the town centre. Parking is usually free at night (20:00-08:00).

By taxi
Two radio taxi services are available 24/7, also for trips in the province or even further. The services include booking by SMS and services for disabled people.

By bicycle
Bicycles can be rented at:



On foot
The town is easily walked, though it occupies more than 183,000 m². In the historic centre, inside where the city wall once stood, are found the most important buildings.

Piazza Grande
A UNESCO heritage site. It is the centre of life of the city. It is a festive, crowded place on Saint's Day (31 January) in honour of the local patron saint, San Geminiano, and on the Thursday before Lent. In front, in the apse of the cathedral, the pole, tile, brick, and fathom units of measure are engraved, to assure honest trading in the piazza. This bears witness to the fact that the piazza was a place of great economic importance and the heart of the city.

Churches




Automotive museums

 * Ferrari Museum is in Maranello.
 * Ferrari Museum is in Maranello.
 * Ferrari Museum is in Maranello.

Do

 * Football: Modena FC play soccer in Serie B, the second tier. Their home ground Stadio Alberto Braglia (capacity 21,000) is 1 km north of city centre.
 * Football: Modena FC play soccer in Serie B, the second tier. Their home ground Stadio Alberto Braglia (capacity 21,000) is 1 km north of city centre.
 * Football: Modena FC play soccer in Serie B, the second tier. Their home ground Stadio Alberto Braglia (capacity 21,000) is 1 km north of city centre.
 * Football: Modena FC play soccer in Serie B, the second tier. Their home ground Stadio Alberto Braglia (capacity 21,000) is 1 km north of city centre.
 * Football: Modena FC play soccer in Serie B, the second tier. Their home ground Stadio Alberto Braglia (capacity 21,000) is 1 km north of city centre.

Eat




Drink
On Via Taglio, Via Gallucci, and Piazza della Pomposa there are many cafés and pubs, wine bars, and brunch-cafés.



Sleep

 * Ostello San Filippo Neri is a basic hostel on Via Sant' Orsola a block south of the railway station.

Connect
As of May 2021, Modena has 4G with Iliad, TIM and Vodafone, and 5G with Wind Tre.

The main Post Office is on Via Modonella, corner with Via Emila, open M-F 08:30-19:00, Sa 08:30-12:30.

Go next

 * Carpi 15 km north is an agreeable town centred around an elegant piazza.
 * Nonantola 5 km northeast has a fine abbey.
 * Maranello has the Ferrari museum and test track.