//
City in Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Photo: Sergius08, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Modena is a town of the Emilia-Romagna Region, in the middle of northern Italy. Visitors are drawn to Modena by its art treasures: 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".
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Audioguides can be useful to discover the cathedral, the cathedral museums, Piazza Grande, and the town hall. They are available in Italian, English, French, German, and Spanish. You can rent them, accompanied by a folding leaflet with maps of the monuments, at the museums of the cathedral and Tourist Information Office in Piazza Grande 14 for €4, plus entrance to the museums or monuments.
Ghirlandina Tower
86 m high and the symbol of the city. UNESCO has added the Ghirlandina, together with the cathedral and Piazza Grande, to its list of heritage sites.
Town Hall
Museum building
The Museum Building, built in the 18th century, was converted in 1881 into a museum housing the paintings and books of the Este family.
Ducal Palace of Modena
The former palace of the Duke, who ruled Modena until 1859. Today the palace is the headquarters of the Military Academy. The museum of the military academy displays weapons, memorabilia, and military items (flags, uniforms, drums, etc.
The former gardens of the Ducal palace.
It was built as a greenhouse, and now hosts Galleria Civica.
Cemetery
St. Augustine parish church
A pantheon for the Estense family.
One of the oldest chureches in Modena — it was mentioned 1st in 1153.
Next to the former St. Francis convent.
della Beata Vergine Annunziata
Built in 1319, reconstructed in 1649.
A Jesuit church built in the 17th century.
Monastery and Church of San Pietro
Guided tours of the factory are available only by reservation M-F, or on Saturday morning but without workers. The guided tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari
The house in which Enzo Ferrari was born in 1898. Its ultramodern external structure in yellow aluminium suggests the bonnet of a car. The museum's mission is to acquaint the public with Modena's dedication to the automobile and racing, as well as with the story of this great figure in the history of car design and manufacturing. Exhibits include multimedia installations and displays.
Panzano of Castelfranco Emilia
Opened in 1996.
Displays a variety of classic cars and motorcycles, including an exquisite group of Maseratis.
To visit a balsamic vinegar production "acetaia", you can contact the Modena tourist office. They'll book a tour for you in one of the factories on the day you request.
Festival Internazionale delle Bande Militari
Modena international military tattoo. Musicians from militaries around the world parade, give concerts, and great performances.
Modena terra di motori
Exhibition of luxury vehicles in the historic centre. Exhibition and show of cars and motorcycles by Ferrari, Maserati, et al.
Festivalfilosofia
For 3 days Modena, Carpi, and Sassuolo offer meetings with the greats of contemporary thought with philosophic dinners, films, shows, and exhibitions.
Specialities: tortellini, veal escalope in balsamico sauce, brassato (beef in red wine sauce).
Speciailties are 'barozzi (chocolate cake) and rosine.
Coffee tasting at its best.
Moved to the Hall of Fame after winning three first places in World's 50 Best Restaurants, this 3 Michelin star venue is one of the world's best restaurants. Osteria Francescana under the guidance of head chef Massimo Bottura elevates Italian cuisine to its finest. Mandatory reservations, plan months ahead.
Decent central mid-price hotel.
Smart stylish hotel.
A large farm and estate of renovated farmhouses dating back to the 1700-1800s, surrounded by lush grounds.
Business hotel with 84 rooms, outside the city along the highway.
Consorzio Taxisti Modenesi
This is an Italian word pun that refers to the possibility of cycling to the centre. Modena offers everyone a free bicycle. You can take free yellow bicycles at the Tourist Information Office where you fill in a form and pay a deposit. Tourists must be of legal age and have a valid ID. This service is also available in a number of other locations, mostly at the north-east of Italy.
general Hospital
Art nouveau market hall with lots of pasta, vegetables, fruits, cheese and sausage specialities.
All types of regional specialities, great selection of wines
Great choice of balsamico vinegar.
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.
By bus
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 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…
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
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.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Bologna · International · BLQ
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Modena and Italy.
Travel tipsUnderstand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind out how much does a trip to Italy cost in 2026. Compare realistic daily budgets for hotels, food, trains, and museum entry across three travel styles.
8 min read
Travel tipsEstimate your Europe trip cost for 2 weeks in 2026. Compare realistic budgets for lodging, Eurail trains, dining, and sightseeing across three styles.
8 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.