I traveled to Modena from Bologna, which is the most convenient option. You can get there either by car or by train — trains depart from Bologna’s central station every hour. The train ride takes just 20 minutes, and you’ll barely have time to blink.

So what is Modena famous for? First of all, it’s the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari. There’s also a museum dedicated to him, although I didn’t make it there this time — a good reason to come back.

Modena is also the home of Luciano Pavarotti, the legendary Italian opera singer, who spent most of his life here. The Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti is located outside the city center, on the outskirts of town, and is only accessible by car.

I headed straight to the historic center. The first landmark I came across was the majestic Palazzo Ducale di Modena. For a time, the palace served as the residence of the Este family after their exile from Ferrara. Today, it houses the Military Academy, so unfortunately, it’s not open to the public. Still, it’s absolutely worth admiring from the outside — a beautiful example of late Baroque architecture.

I continued on to Via Emilia Centro, which is a great starting point for exploring the city center. There are plenty of interesting shops here, including familiar international brands. I got a bit carried away with shopping. By the way, there’s a stunning Mango store — worth stepping inside just for the interior.

Turning off the street, I arrived at Piazza Grande. This is where Modena’s ancient Catholic cathedral stands, originally built in the 11th century. The façade is decorated with bas-reliefs depicting biblical scenes. The interior feels very different from, say, Renaissance churches — Romanesque architecture has a distinct character of its own.

Right next to the cathedral is Palazzo Comunale. Historically, it served as the town hall and the meeting place of the city council, and the Council Chamber is still used for its original purpose today. The clock tower was built slightly later than the palace itself, and the clock was once decorated with the coats of arms of the D’Este and Ferrari families. I’m not entirely sure whether it’s possible to go inside, but it might be worth a try.

From there, I continued wandering through narrow side streets. Bright, well-kept houses, cobblestone paths — Modena left a very pleasant impression on me. Walking around here is pure joy. You can also stop by the local Mercato Storico Albinelli to sample regional cheeses or grab a bite to eat. Just keep in mind that the market is closed on Sundays.

Modena was the final stop of my journey through the Emilia-Romagna region. The next day, I had a flight to Istanbul, and I really didn’t want to leave — you get used to la dolce vita far too quickly, especially when cold weather and snow were waiting for me back home in Moscow.

In the future, I’d love to make it to Parma and Imola, and maybe even Rimini — to finally see Italy’s beaches. Emilia-Romagna is

a fascinating region indeed.