Start in the heart of Modena to discover Modena's beautiful Romanesque-style Cathedral. The complex that includes the Cathedral, the Ghirlandina Tower, and Piazza Grande was established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
The Modena Cathedral is often called a “book in stone,” and, on its fascinating exterior, you’ll see mysterious and monstrous creatures sculpted onto the door posts, the architraves, and the bas-reliefs that decorate the walls and, high above you, the roof (the originals of the famous “metopes,” eight sculptural reliefs, which originally appeared on the roof projections, are now housed in the Museums of the Cathedral).
Once you’ve immersed yourselves in architecture and history, head to the Ghirlandina Tower. Following the “Ghirlandiamo” map, you’ll discover the mysterious “stolen bucket” of Italian literary legend and climb the tower’s 200 steps to admire a splendid 360° panorama of the city.
It’s a great place to take a photo to prove you “conquered the summit”!
