..it’s in the North of Italy

Republic of Italy:

• Population: 60.742.397

• Capital: Rome• Language:

italian

Modena:• Inhabitants:

185.706

OUR TOWN IS MODENA

HISTORY A Roman colony in 183 BC, Modena was the theatre of the war between Decimus Brutus and Mark Antony.Half destroyed during the 4th century,, abbandoned in the 5th and 6th centuries because of wars and floods, the city came back to life around the bishop’s palace. After the construction of the Cathedral, begun in 1099, and the first signs of city government, which led to municipal Modena, the city was governed by the Este family and in 1598 became their capital and saw the construction of the new ducal palace. With the fall of Estense sovereignty the city became part of the Kindom of Italy.

THE CATHEDRAL

Its construction began in 1099. It is one of the greatest masterpieces of the European Romanesque.

The façade is divided into three sections that correspond to the naves.

On the South side there is the Princes Door, a work by the so-called Maestro of San Geminiano and other followers of Wiligelmo, and the Regia Door.The crypt contains the tomb of the patron Saint Geminiano.

THE MUSEUMS• Estense Library:

It contains printed books, sixteenth century incunabula, and numerous miniature codices from 14th to the 16th centuries. The most precious text is the famous Borso D’Este Bible, a masterpiece of Ferrara illumination work (15° century).

• Estense Gallery:

This is among the most important Italian collections and reflects the Este family’s interest in paintings and sculpture, but also archaeology and the minor arts.

• Civic Museums:

The Archaelogical Ethnological Civic Museum contains the earliest of human beings in the Modena aerea. There is also «The Gandini collection», which is very important; it contains historical fabrics.

• Panini Museum:

It’s famous for its collectible stickers, cards, games, comics and books.

THE TOWN HALL

The palace faces on to Piazza Grande and incorporates «faced» medieval buildings from the 17th century onwards.Worth visiting are the Sala del Fuoco (Fire Room) and the eighteenth century Sala del Vecchio consiglio (Old Council Room).

THE DUCAL PALACE

Begun in 1634 following a design by the Roman architect Bartolomeo Avanzini, the palace was the home of the Este court for more than two centuries.Today the building is the site of the Military Academy.The most spectacular rooms are the vast, elegant Hall of Honour and the eighteenth century Gold Cabinet.

THE CHURCHESThere are many churches in Modena, but the most important are:

• Sant’Agostino: Founded in 1338, it was converted in 1664 into the palace of funeral rites of the dukes.

• Chiesa del Voto: This church, designed by Cristoforo Malagola, was built in thanksgiving to the Madonna for the end of the plague in 1630.

LAND OF MOTORS• Enzo Ferrari’s House Museum:The Enzo Ferrari’s House Museum

includes the house where Enzo Ferrari was born in 1898 and a new futuristic exhibition structure in the shape of a car bonnet, coveret with yellow aluminium.

• Museum Ferrari:Maranello (Mo). The museum, is near the

Ferrari factory and tells the story of car company from Maranello and it’s sensational success in racing, business and image.

Modena is known worldwide as synonymous with good food. The place of honour among first courses goes to the Tortellini, small pasta squares folded over a filling of pork, ham and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. For the main course, Zampone, a mixture of minced pork meats, seasoned with spices and made into a sausage with the skin of the pig’s front leg. The Lambrusco is a sparkling wine, ruby red in colour, and the ideal companion for the local cousine. Not to be missed is the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. A good portion of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese must not be lacking either.And then there’s the fruit: the exquisite Vignola cherries.

THE EVENTS• Millemiglia: It’s on May. The famous

vintage car race that goes through Modena and Ferrara attracting a solid crowd of fans. The old-timer cars pass through Modena to then continue towards Brescia, the finishing line.

• Festival filosofia: Mid-September. For three days Modena, Carpi and Sassuolo stage meetings with great leaders in contemporary thought, philosophical dinnersfilms, shows and exhibitions.

• Memorial Luciano Pavarotti: on 6th September. Modena remembers tenor Pavarotti with a great concert and other events; the shops of the old town dress their windows in memory of him, while under the arcades of the areas song by the Maestro.