What to see in Modena in one day, where to park and how to get around, where to eat and what to taste typical, from tigelle to Lambrusco.
Modena it's one of those cities that steals your heart slowly, on tiptoe. It needs to be lived and savored with calm and dedication, despite the immediately appreciable beauty. There Emilian city it offers numerous possibilities for recreation and is ideal for a weekend that combines art, culture, relaxation, nature and quality food and wine. A few kilometers from Bologna and the Apennines, well connected by motorways and railways, it is a city of ancient origins and deep-rooted traditions.
My first dispassionate advice is tinged with green and is to get rid of the car, parking it for free even just outside the center, to proceed on foot or by bicycle: Modena is well served by cycle and pedestrian paths and you can cover great distances quickly and safely. A green belt of parks and tree-lined avenues surrounds the city, making it pleasant and suitable for outdoor sports and long walks. From the great "Enzo Ferrari" Park, at the “Amendola” Park, al "Park of the Resistance" to the cycle paths that lead to the historic center, places very popular with citizens thanks to the numerous activities that can be found there.
Between one bike ride and the next, the Emilian town offers a wide range of alternative activities for all tastes. For the greedy for culture, there are two almost mandatory steps: Photography Foundation, with its permanent collections that count more than 1200 works and its numerous high quality exhibitions (free every Wednesday and the first Sunday of the month) and the Estense Gallery, which can be visited for free on the first Sunday of each month (4 € the other days ), a treasure chest of Este art and more.
Il Duomo, the work of the architect Lanfranco, is obviously an undisputed and fundamental stop, a magical and artistically overwhelming place, a precious stone set among the elegant buildings of the center. Next to the Cathedral stands the Ghirlandina Tower, born as a bell tower but always with a civic function, houses the copy of the famous "Bucket Rapita", the subject of contention between Modenese and Bolognese during the Battle of Zappolino in 1325. It can be visited for 3 €, is a great way to enjoy the city from another point of view!
If you prefer to enjoy the city ​​in the open air, getting lost in the alleys and streets of the center is certainly an excellent choice. To welcome you magnificent architecture, small artisan shops, colorful arcades, the many clubs from scent of tigelle and Lambrusco. The Via Emilia is also very busy, a hub for shopping and Sunday walks. Instead, it is difficult to choose which restaurants or clubs to recommend, the city is scattered with them and you can find really curious places for all tastes.
Definitely for a traditional lunch, without too many formalities, in a familiar and spartan atmosphere, "Osteria da Ermes”Is the right choice. Plentiful and tasty dishes, friendliness and absolutely competitive prices. For an evening with friends, a trip to Pomposa is a must teeming with cafes and swarming with people and voices. Here you can spend pleasant time tasting good craft beers, in a refined and welcoming environment, Gate31, one of the two outlets of the micro brewery Labeerinth. The restaurant offers beers with mythological names, accompanied by culinary delicacies.
