Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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(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.
Opposite the entrance to the cathedral, the Musei del Duomo OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP
(Via Lanfranco 6; adult/child €3/2;
9.30am-12.30pm & 3.30-6.30pm Tue-Sun) has more of Wili-
gelmo's stonework.
Inseparable from the cathedral is the early-13th-century Torre Ghirlandina OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP (Corso Duomo; admission €2; 9:30am-12:30pm & 3-7pm Sat-Sun Apr-Sep) , an 87m
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
facade of the Palazzo Comunale OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP .
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
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