{"id":2327,"date":"2019-10-22T20:41:55","date_gmt":"2019-10-22T20:41:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookingsforyou.com\/blog\/?p=2327"},"modified":"2025-02-04T10:06:32","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T10:06:32","slug":"spotlight-on-modena","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookingsforyou.com\/blog\/spotlight-on-modena\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight on: Modena"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Despite being located so close to Bologna, it\u2019s grown to be very different from its larger noisy neighbour. Scintillating music events, fine art and pedigree motoring history – here\u2019s why you should visit Modena on your next Italian holiday.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

History<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Modena is a city many will have heard of, but we\u2019ll come to why later.\u00a0Its history stems back to Roman times – around 180BC. It was a flourishing town under the Romans but its fate changed with the fall of the Roman empire. A dark period ensued, with several hundred years of decay and dropping population. The 11th century was the turning point and it grew with nearby Bologna into a prosperous market town that it is today.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Events<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A highlight of the events calendar is the International Festival of Military Bands in July. Orchestras from all over the world descend on the medieval square to display their incredible music.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In early September there\u2019s a concert hosted to honour Luciano Pavarotti, in the wonderful Piazza Grande. This is where the acoustics of the wall lined Italian come into their own – imagine the rapturous voice of Pavarotti in the square!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Arts and attractions\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

No visit to Modena would be complete without paying homage to the local hero – Enzo Ferrari. Head over to Maranello where you can visit the Ferrari Museum and tour the car maker\u2019s illustrious history. You can even get behind the wheel of a Ferrari and drive it around the local roads. A must!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Another really interesting stop on a Modena tour is Villa San Donnino. Learn about and witness the production of balsamic vinegar. It\u2019s a small operation run by a local family and gives a fascinating insight into local agriculture and tradition.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Built in a Romanesque style, the Cathedral of Modena is a beautiful building and undoubtedly a highlight of this city. It was built in 1319 and is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Next to the Cathedral is Torre Ghirlandina, an 86 metre tall tower which you can climb for fantastic views over the city. It\u2019s the tallest building in Modena so the views are amazing!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How to get to Modena\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The easiest way to get to Modena from the UK is a flight to Bologna. You can fly directly from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Manchester. From there, it\u2019s just a 30 minute drive north.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you\u2019re visiting Modena as part of a wider tour of the area you\u2019ll be pleased to know it\u2019s right next to one of the main motorways running up and down Italy.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Despite being located so close to Bologna, it\u2019s grown to be very different from its larger noisy neighbour. Scintillating music events, fine art and pedigree motoring history – here\u2019s why you should visit Modena on your next Italian holiday.\u00a0 History\u00a0 Modena is a city many will have heard of, but we\u2019ll come to why later.\u00a0Its history stems back to Roman times – around 180BC. It was a flourishing town under the Romans but its fate changed with the fall of the Roman empire. A dark period ensued, with several hundred years of decay and dropping population. The 11th century was the turning point and it grew with nearby Bologna into a prosperous market town that it is today.\u00a0 Events A highlight of the events calendar is the International Festival of Military Bands in July. Orchestras from all over the world descend on the medieval square to display their incredible music.\u00a0 In early September there\u2019s a concert hosted to honour Luciano Pavarotti, in the wonderful Piazza Grande. This is where the acoustics of the wall lined Italian come into their own – imagine the rapturous voice of Pavarotti in the square!\u00a0 Arts and attractions\u00a0 No visit to Modena would be complete without paying homage to the local hero – Enzo Ferrari. Head over to Maranello where you can visit the Ferrari Museum and tour the car maker\u2019s illustrious history. You can even get behind the wheel of a Ferrari and drive it around the local roads. A must!\u00a0 Another really interesting stop on a Modena tour is Villa San Donnino. Learn about and witness the production of balsamic vinegar. It\u2019s a small operation run by a local family and gives a fascinating insight into local agriculture and tradition.\u00a0 Built in a Romanesque style, the Cathedral of Modena is a beautiful building and undoubtedly a highlight of this city. It was built in 1319 and is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.\u00a0 Next to the Cathedral is Torre Ghirlandina, an 86 metre tall tower which you can climb for fantastic views over the city. It\u2019s the tallest building in Modena so the views are amazing!\u00a0 How to get to Modena\u00a0 The easiest way to get to Modena from the UK is a flight to Bologna. You can fly directly from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Manchester. From there, it\u2019s just a 30 minute drive north. If you\u2019re visiting Modena as part of a wider tour of the area you\u2019ll be pleased to know it\u2019s right next to one of the main motorways running up and down Italy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2328,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-right-sidebar.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[416,173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bookings-for-you","category-italy"],"yoast_head":"\nModena travel guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Modena travel guide: A complete guide to the city of Modena for those planning a villa holiday in Emilia Romagna\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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