Autumn in Modena
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Autumn”?
Perhaps it’s the first chilly mornings and the pleasure of warming up with a steaming cup of tea or coffee. Then there are the seasonal delicacies—chestnuts, pumpkins, and pomegranates—comfortable sweaters and walks in nature. But above all—there is color!
Autumn is the season of foliage: the trees around us change their leaves and the views along city streets are astonishing.
If this spectacle of nature is as thrilling to you as it is to us, don’t miss out on a visit to the best places in and around Modena to admire the beauty of Autumn between October and early November. We’ve got four to share with you.
First stop: The Este Ducal Gardens (Modena)
The Este Ducal Gardens, better known in town as the Giardini Pubblici or public gardens, is in the middle of Modena’s historic center. The Gardens were opened to Modena’s citizens in 1739 by Este Duke Francesco III and became public in 1870. Today, this oasis of nature and elegance is not to be missed. Modena’s most important historic park was first designed at the end of the 1500s when the Duke fenced off a large area of land north of the castle. It wasn’t until the 1800s, though, that the Gardens began to look as they do today.
Strolling along its gravel paths is pleasant in any season, but many of the trees show their greatest beauty in Autumn.
Walk along the avenue lined with linden trees or go north, towards Corso Vittorio Emanuele, to admire meadows framed by horse chestnuts, ash trees, and cedars—and one spectacular gingko.
At the children’s playground, you’ll find a monumental English oak and red bald cypresses overlooking a pond.
The show is guaranteed!
Second stop: Villa Gandini Park in Formigine
Extraordinary specimens of gingko can be found in Formigine where they are a particularly impressive sight in Autumn.
Part of what makes them so wonderful is the splendid setting of Formigine’s Villa Gandini Park, where an Autumn postcard landscape waits for you to step into it.
Majestic, beautiful, and bright yellow in Autumn, the two Ginkgo biloba trees stand side by side, overlooking a quiet pond that is home to a family of ducks. The elegant Villa Gandini (formerly Villa Aggazzotti) stands behind the trees, a neoclassical structure that is now home to the city library. The large garden of Villa Aggazzotti was designed by Count Gandini, who was fond of botany.
The Ginkgo biloba is an ancient tree with origins in China. Its leaves typically take the shape of a fan and are bright green in Summer. In the Autumn they turn a unique and brilliant shade of yellow.
Third stop: The Lambrusco Grasparossa Hills (between Levizzano and Castelvetro)
The Lambrusco Grasparossa Hills, in the Terre di Castelli area, are a sight not to be missed during the Autumn.
Spend a day among historic villages and breathtaking landscapes, experiencing Autumn at the height of its beauty.
The hills of Lambrusco Grasparossa are always beautiful, but in Autumn they seem to have been painted in astonishing colors and given an intense new life.
Fourth stop: Lago della Ninfa (Sestola)
One spectacular place to admire the Autumn foliage is Lago della Ninfa (“ Nymph Lake”) in Sestola, though beauty is everywhere in the Modenese Apennines. From October to early November, the lake area is tinged with the most varied shades from intense yellows to oranges and reds. But the transformations happen quickly, shifting even from one day to the next, and the luxurious growth of plants and trees, alongside areas carpeted in firs, beeches, and blueberry bushes, paints the mountains with an ever-changing color palette.
To fully appreciate the area’s beauty from variety of perspectives, take a walk, such as the path that goes from Pian del Falco to the lake.
If you need more information about visiting Modena and the surrounding province in Autumn or any other season, contact us. We’ll be happy to help you organize your trip.
What are your favorite Autumn places in and around Modena? Send them to info@VisitModena.it or tag us on social media (@VisitModena and #VisitModena).
