Modena and Parma: from Cars, Art and Gastronomy

As one of the city's most famous personalities is Enzo Ferrari, the first proposal of the day is to visit the Enzo Ferrari Museum. If you were a big car fan, you can make a joint visit to this museum together with the one in Maranello (half an hour by car). If you visit both museums, keep in mind the time to rearrange the rest of the itinerary.
Part of the museum is housed in the house where Enzo Ferrari was born. In 1920, he convinced his mother to sell the house to buy the first racing car, and in 2014 it was recovered and converted into a museum.
The museum has two parts, a smaller one where the original workshop and the office where he worked used to be. And a much larger and modern one where you can see many cars and a video with the history of Enzo Ferrari and the cavallino rampante.
You can find information about prices and buy tickets on the official website.

After the museum, leave the car parked near the centre to explore the old town on foot.

Walk along Via Emilia to the city's main square: Piazza Grande. There, you will find the typical buildings of this region of Italy with galleries and arches, the palazzo comunale (town hall), the palazzo dell'arcivescovado (archbishop's palace), the Cathedral, the Ghirlandina (the bell tower) and some details.
Among them the pietra ringadora (a rectangular stone that served as a place for orators in the Middle Ages and later as a place of punishment for debtors, among other functions) and the bonissima, the statue of a female figure.
The idea is to take a short walk around the square to appreciate its details and architecture.

One of the most important buildings to see is the cathedral, but you can visit it after climbing the Torre Ghirlandina (Bell Tower) because the visit to the tower is timetabled.
After climbing the 200 steps of the Tower, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city.
You can buy tickets and see the visiting hours online.

One of the places where you can stop and spend more time if you are interested is the Duomo of Modena, considered one of the most beautiful in Italy.
Please note that visits are not allowed during masses.

It's lunchtime! A good idea for lunch is to visit the Albinelli Market. In this market you will find fresh products and all the traditional food of Modena and the Emilia Romagna region. Be sure to try their pastas, cheeses and hams.
You can also buy something to eat/drink on your trip to the city of Parma.

If you are in the city on a Friday or a weekend and you are interested in learning about the world of Balsamic Oil of Modena, you can visit Municipal Vinegar Works of Modena.
The municipal vinegar cellar can only be visited by appointment and with a guided tour.
You have to book the day and time on the website, but the payment is only in cash, on the spot.
If you travel on other days, you can visit the Palazzo Comunale. Then come back to the car and drive a few minutes to the outskirts of the city to visit the Luciano Pavarrotti House Museum.

Explore the Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti and uncover the life and legacy of the legendary opera tenor. Step into his preserved former residence, featuring personal memorabilia, costumes, awards, and iconic stage performances.
You can buy tickets on the official website.

The next destination on this route is the city of Parma. Drive there and leave the car at the hotel where you will spend the night.
Look for a centrally located hotel with parking. Leave the car there and get ready for a walk through the city of Parma.

Besides the fact that Parma is known for its Parmigiano Reggiano or prosciutto di Parma (exquisite cheese and ham), it also has some very important historical buildings.
After leaving your things at the hotel, you can walk to the historic centre to discover some of its most emblematic buildings. One of them is its duomo (cathedral), which is located in the beautiful Piazza del Duomo.
Its interior is an art museum where the bas-reliefs of Benedetto Antelami and the great frescoes of Antonio Allegri, known as Correggio, are preserved.
On the website you can read about the art and architecture in the duomo and confirm the opening hours.

Another of the buildings you will see in Piazza del Duomo is the Baptistery of Parma, which was built between 1196 and 1216 and represents one of the most important monuments of the transition from Romanesque to early Gothic. You will surely be struck by its octagonal shape, made of pink marble.
As the interior is not open to visitors at this time of day, you can see it from the outside and leave the visit for tomorrow morning.

The next suggestion is to walk around the centre to find a place to have dinner. One of them is Trattoria del Ducato.
You can order pasta such as anolini or tortelli or some meat with balsamic vinegar.

For dessert and before returning to the hotel, you can have an artisan ice cream at one of the many ice cream parlours in the city. One of them is Gelateria La Romana.
Open hours Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 12:00 - 22:00 Friday: 12:00 - 23:00 Saturday and Sunday: 16:00 - 22:00 Tuesday closed

It's time for a good rest, because tomorrow the day starts early!