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Modena

Description

Birth place of car legends: famous names such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and De Tomaso. Land of genuine flavors and good food, which are part of the daily life experience.

Modena preserves unspoiled and intact the elegance of its history, which has seen the city as a star of historic and artistic scenes. Three important monuments: the Cathedral, the Ghirlandina (bell tower of the Cathedral) and the Main City Square have all been declared in 1997 by the UNESCO as part of the "World Heritage List".

Wonderful example of the European Romanesque style, the Cathedral of Modena was built by the architect Lanfranco and by the sculptor Wiligelmo, on the ruins of the burial grounds of Saint Geminiano, whose rests are buried in the crypt of the Cathedral. To the works of these two masters, a precise outline of the art and culture of the Middle Ages, in the XIII century more features to the original project have been added by the Campionesi Masters. The large cusp of arches façade is divided into three sections by two buttresses. Under the rose window of the centre section, the main door finds place, with a porch underpinned by two lions.

Symbol of the city is the bell tower of the Cathedral ,the Ghirlandina, a square shape building with an octagonal tip, designed by Arrigo da Campione is a mixture between Gothic and Romanesque styles.

The Town Hall, built in the Main square, is a building of '600 and gathers together the Medieval mansions of the Region and the Town Council. At short distance the Palazzo Ducale is located, seat of the court of the Estensi between '600 and '800, built on the ruins of the older castle of the same Family, which is actually the seat of the Military Accademy of Modena.

Walking up the Via Emilia, it opens into the Piazza Sant'Agostino, onto which faces the Church of Sant'Agostino, where it is possible to admire the "Weep at the death of Christ" of the artist Begarelli, and the Museum building, permanent exhibition of important art works. Worth a visit: the Estense Art Gallery with a wonderful collection of paintings, which evidence the interest in art of the Estensi; the Estense Library with precious manuscripts of the XIV and XVI century (such as the Bible of Borso d'Este) and the Estense Memorial Tablet Museum.

A special mention goes to the Town's Opera House, opened in mid '800 and dedicated to a famous citizen of Modena, the Tenor "Luciano Pavarotti", who recently passed away in 2007.

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