October 2022. As we wanted to test Trenitalia‘s Frecciarossa 1000 service from Paris to Milan, we planned a rail trip around it. From Antwerp to Paris with Thalys, the ‘Red Arrow’ to Milan and once in Italy continuing to Trieste and Bologna. The return trip took us to Basel in Switzerland to enjoy SBB‘s panoramic coach and Germany‘s Rhine route to Cologne. From there we got back to Belgium. 

After a disappointing Enzo Ferrari Museum, we took the time to have a little walk in Modena.

Modena

Modena is a city on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy.

A town, and seat of an archbishop, it is known for its car industry since the factories of the famous Italian upper-class sports car makers Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Pagani and Maserati are, or were, located here and all, except Lamborghini, have headquarters in the city or nearby. 

One of Ferrari’s cars, the 360 Modena, was named after the town itself. Ferrari’s production plant and Formula 1 team Scuderia Ferrari are based in Maranello south of the city.

The University of Modena, founded in 1175 and expanded by Duke Francesco II d’Este in 1686, focuses on economics, medicine and law, and is the second oldest athenaeum in Italy. 

Famous Modenesi include Mary of Modena, the Queen consort of England and Scotland; operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti and soprano Mirella Freni, born in Modena itself and Enzo Ferrari.

A walk in Modena

After the Ferrari museum we walked in the Parco Giardino Ducale Estense or Dukes of Este Park and Garden. 

Italian military officers are trained at the Military Academy of Modena, and partly housed in the Baroque Ducal Palace. The Biblioteca Estense houses historical volumes and 3,000 manuscripts. 

Duchy of Modena and Reggio

Modena was part of the Duchy of Modena and Reggio, which was ruled by the House of Este. The senior branch of Este became the House of Welf or Guelph, or Guelf. The House of Welf led to the Hanover Dynasty, the Saxony Dynasty and the Windsor Dynasty.

There’s also a link with Belgium. The name Este survives in the House of Habsburg with the name Austria-Este. Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este is the husband of Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este and thus brother-in-law of Philippe, King of the Belgians. 

Duomo

The Cathedral of Modena aka Cattedrale Metropolitana di Santa Maria Assunta e San Geminiano aka Duomo di Modena with the Torre della Ghirlandina and the Piazza Grande are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Via Emilia

We ended our walk on the Via Emilia. The Via Aemilia was a major Roman road in the north Italian plain, running from Ariminum (Rimini), on the Adriatic coast, to Placentia (Piacenza) on the river Padus (Po). It was completed in 187 BC. The Via Aemilia connected at Rimini with the Via Flaminia, which had been completed 33 years earlier, to Rome. It gave the name to the region.

So?

We only stayed a short while in Modena and there is certainly more to discover. Modena felt less busy than Bologna, which is nice. It’s main colour is yellow, which you find on houses, buses and the Ferrari logo. 

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Paris – Italy – Basel 2022

1. REVIEW | Restaurant Le Train Blue at Paris-Gare-de-Lyon.
2. REVIEW | Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 Paris – Milan in Business Executive.
3. REVIEW | Just Hotel Milano.
4. FYRA NOSTALGIA | Trenitalia Frecciargento Milan to Trieste on the ETR 700 ex-Fyra.
5. REVIEW | Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta.
6. TRIESTE | Miramare Castle.
7. History of Trieste at Diego de Henriquez War for Peace Museum / Museo de la Guerra per Pace.
8. ITALY | 1.5 day in Trieste.
9. EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Sights and churches in Bologna.
10. History of Bologna Museum at Palazzo Pepoli.
11. REVIEW | The Social Hub Bologna.
12. BOLOGNA | University Museums of Palazzo Poggi ft. Obstetrics, Military Architecture, Geographical Maps and Human Anatomy.
13. REVIEW | Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.