Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Corso Duomo; 7am-12.30pm & 3.30-7pm)
Modena's celebrated cathedral combines the aus-
terity of the Dark Ages with throwback traditions from the Romans in a style known in
Europe as Romanesque. The church stands out among Emilia-Romagna's many other ec-
clesial relics for its remarkable architectural purity. It is, by popular consensus, the finest
Romanesque church in Italy, and in 1997 was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
While not as large or spectacular as other Italian churches, the cathedral - dedicated to
the city's patron saint, St Geminianus - has a number of striking features. The dark interi-
or is dominated by the huge Gothic
rose window
(actually a 13th-century addition) that
shoots rays of light down the grand central apse. To the sides, a series of vivid bas-reliefs
depicting scenes from Genesis are the work of the 12th-century sculptor Wiligelmo. In-
terior highlights include an elaborate rood screen decorated by Anselmo da Campione
and, in the crypt, Guido Mazzoni's
Madonna della pappa
, a group of five painted terra-
cotta figures.
(Via Lanfranco 6; adult/child €3/2;
9.30am-12.30pm & 3.30-6.30pm Tue-Sun)
has more of Wili-
gelmo's stonework.
tower topped with a Gothic spire that was named after Seville's famous 'Giralda' in the
early 16th century by exiled Spanish Jews. Facing it across Piazza Grande is the elegant
Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari
(
www.museocasaenzoferrari.it
;
Via Paolo Ferrari 85; adult/reduced €13/11; 9.30am-7pm)
While
Maranello's Ferrari museum focuses on supersonic cars, this new place, inaugurated in
2012 and a five-minute walk from Modena train station, celebrates the man himself -
Signor Enzo Ferrari. The memorabilia is cleverly juxtaposed in two separate buildings.
The traditional house where Enzo was born in 1898 relates his life story (with multi-lin-
gual audio commentaries and film footage), and a slick curvaceous modern building acts
as a gigantic car showroom painted in bright 'Modena yellow'. Here you'll find the ticket
office, a cafe and plenty of Ferraris and Maseratis to gawp at. A shuttle bus (one way €6)
connects to the Maranello museum six times daily.
MUSEUM