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Tourism: UNESCO Piazza Grande, Ducal Palace, Ferrari, Pavarotti, balsamic vinegar

Cathedral, Ghirlandina and Piazza Grande (UNESCO 1997) with the Cathedral Museums; the Ducal Palace with weekend guided tours; the Enzo Ferrari Museum and, in Maranello, the Ferrari Museum; the Pavarotti House Museum; the municipal vinegar loft (closed for works from 19 October 2026). Tourist office at Piazza Grande 14.

Sections: Attractions · Museums · Nature · Itineraries · Excursions · Accessible visits

  • Cathedral: begun in 1099 over an earlier basilica, designed by Lanfranco and decorated with reliefs by Wiligelmo; the Cathedral Museums complete the visit.
  • Ghirlandina Tower: a bell tower begun in the early 12th century and completed in 1319; it can be climbed every day by booking, with evening openings on Saturdays in August.
  • Piazza Grande: founded in the second half of the 12th century, bordered by the Town Hall and the Archbishop's palace; with the Cathedral and tower it has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1997.
  • Ducal Palace: seat of the Military Academy, open only on guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays, by booking.
  • Enzo Ferrari Museum, next to Enzo Ferrari's birthplace, in the yellow-roofed pavilion designed by Jan Kaplický; the combined ticket with the Ferrari Museum in Maranello is valid for 48 hours.
  • Luciano Pavarotti House Museum (Stradello Nava 6): the tenor's home, open since 2015, is visited across 12 rooms on four floors.
  • Municipal vinegar loft in the attic of the Town Hall: from 19 October 2026 it is closed to the public for restoration and expansion, with no reopening date.

When and where to ask

From 1 to 4 October 2026 "Modena Patrimonio Mondiale in Festa" offered openings of the UNESCO site and projections in Piazza Grande. The Teatro Comunale Pavarotti-Freni, opened in 1841, can also be visited with a guide. The tourist office (IAT), at Piazza Grande 14, is run by Modenatur.

Sources

UNESCO World Heritage – Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena (n. 827)· UNESCO

Updated: 2026-10-14

Visit Modena – Ingresso alla Torre Ghirlandina· Comune di Modena – Visit Modena (IAT gestito da Modenatur)

Updated: 2026-10-14

Visit Modena – Modena Patrimonio Mondiale in Festa 2026· Comune di Modena – Visit Modena (IAT gestito da Modenatur)

Updated: 2026-10-14

Visit Modena – Palazzo Ducale di Modena, visita guidata· Comune di Modena – Visit Modena (IAT gestito da Modenatur)

Updated: 2026-10-14

Visit Modena – Visita guidata dell'Acetaia Comunale di Modena· Comune di Modena – Visit Modena (IAT gestito da Modenatur)

Updated: 2026-10-14

Visit Modena – Biglietti per i Musei Ferrari (Modena e Maranello)· Comune di Modena – Visit Modena (IAT gestito da Modenatur)

Updated: 2026-10-14

Visit Modena – Visita guidata al Teatro Comunale Pavarotti-Freni· Comune di Modena – Visit Modena (IAT gestito da Modenatur)

Updated: 2026-10-14

Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti – sito ufficiale· Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti

Updated: 2026-10-14

Visit Modena – Contatta lo IAT· Comune di Modena – Visit Modena (IAT gestito da Modenatur)

Updated: 2026-10-14

Reviewed: 10/22/2026 · by piero.avolio · rev. 1 · Period: → 2027-10-13

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