One of the personalities who have made the greatest contribution to Modena's worldwide fame is without doubt Enzo Ferrari
Illustrious people
One man from Modena who certainly needs no introduction is Luciano Pavarotti. A tenor famous on opera stages throughout the world, Pavarotti has made Modena one of the leading international centres for bel canto.
Ludovico Antonio Muratori was born in Vignola on 21 October 1672 to a rural family and demonstrated his thirst for knowledge from an early age. He attended the School of the Society of Jesus (where he took vows) and the "Public Study", earning degrees in humanities, law and philosophy.
Dorando Pietri was born in Mandrio, near Correggio, on 16 October 1885. On 22 October 1897, his family moved to Carpi where his father opened a greengrocer shop.
This Italian humanist and philosopher is the best-known exponent of the Pico dynasty which ruled Mirandola.
Alessandro Tassoni was born in Modena in 1565 to a noble family. He studied philosophy, law and rhetoric in Bologna, Pisa and Ferrara.
Guido Mazzoni, known as Il Paganino or Il Modanino was born in Modena in 1450. The success he achieved is particularly linked to a precise artistic genre that was very popular in Northern Italy in the fifteenth century: groups of multi-colour, life-size statues depicting the Lamentation over the Dead Christ.
Menotti joined the "Carboneria" movement in 1817 and even as a young man was inspired by strong democratic and patriotic feelings that encouraged him to reject Austrian domination of Italy.
Maria was born in the Ducal Palace of Modena on 5 October 1658 to Alfonso IV, Duke of Modena, and Laura Martinozzi. She was educated in the Monastery of the Visitation and, even as a young girl, expressed a profound sense of religion and a desire to enter convent life; nevertheless, she was promised as the wife of the Prince of York, James II Stuart and future King of England.
A versatile artist who experimented with different techniques, Giuseppe Graziosi (Savignano sul Panaro 1879 – Florence 1942) worked as a sculptor, painter, graphic artist and photographer.
Mirella Freni was born in Modena on 27 February 1935. After a short but significant career as an operatic infant prodigy and five years of hard study under the guidance of Luigi Bertazzoni and Ettore Campogalliani, at the age of nineteen Mirella Freni made her debut as Micaela in Carmen by George Bizet at the Teatro Comunale in Modena on 3 February 1955.