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MODENA
40km
(25 miles) NW of Bologna, 403km
(250 miles) NW of Rome, 130km (81
miles) N of Florence.
Modena is not your normal Italian tourist town and in fact
many tourists concerned only with
art and culture avoid it
altogether. But those interested
in industry, and more particularly
the automobile industry, are sure
to want to visit this town. Modena
is the city where the automobile
and racing giants Ferrari,
Maserati, and De Tomaso,
manufacture their world famous
cars. The other products of the
city are Lambrusco wine and
balsamic vinegar.
It is not that the city has no history or artifacts. When
Pope Clement the Vlll took over
Ferrera from the Este dynasty, the
family established a duchy at
Modena in the closing years of the
16th century, and this city built
in the Po Valley possesses many
great art treasures that will
remind the tourist of its more
glorious past. The ancient Roman
road, Via Emilia, cuts through
Modena and its main culture
tourists are European art
connoisseurs. Another art form in
which the inhabitants excel is
gastronomy. Its chefs and their
offerings are well known in the
more important catering circles.
Its main export is of course the
great opera star Luciano
Pavarotti.
This
is another of the Italian towns
that had to be completely
renovated after the Second World
War, and this renovation has
resulted in a sleek modern city,
that is home to a people who are
proud to be blessed with the
highest per capita income in
Italy. Most of the visitors, who
come here, do so to do business
with the Ferrari or Maserati car
plants, both of which are
off-limits to the general public.
However, you can visit a showroom,
the Galleria Ferrari, Via
Dino Ferrari 43 in Maranello (tel.
0536-949713), a suburb of
Modena. The showroom displays
engines, trophies, and both
antique and the latest Ferrari
cars. It is open daily 9:30am to
12:30pm and 2:30 to 6pm, and
charges an admission of 9€
($8.05) for adults and 5€
($4.45) for youths between the
ages 6 and 10. From the bus
station on Via Bacchini in Modena,
a bus marked MARANELLO departs
hourly during the day. Ask at the
tourist office for details and a
map.
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