Luciano Pavarotti's Modena
Remembered as one of the greatest operatic tenors of all time, Luciano Pavarotti enjoyed a fame that reached far beyond Italy. His powerful and extraordinary voice, with its unmistakable timbre, as well as his radiant, larger-than-life personality, made Maestro Luciano Pavarotti a symbol of Italian culture throughout the world.
During his long artistic career, in fact, Pavarotti appeared on the world’s most impressive stages and became the ambassador of Bel Canto. His work in other genres and partnerships with stars in the world of contemporary music changed the face of opera forever and reached a vast and diverse audience.
Born in Modena on October 12, 1935, Pavarotti inherited his passion for singing from his father, an opera lover and amateur tenor in the Gioachino Rossini Chorale. Like his father, Fernando, Luciano also took the first steps of what would be a glorious career in a city choir. What made him an undisputed myth, and ensured that he would be remembered with affection and respect even more than ten years after his death, was his great dedication and immense passion. In order to continue to honor the memory of one of the world’s most beloved artists, the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation opened the doors to the Maestro's house in his hometown.
The life of this great personality is forever intertwined with the City of Modena, and the Luciano Pavarotti’s Modena excursion is designed for those who want to learn more about a great artist and consummate professional.
This excursion is divided into two parts, each linked to a special aspect of Pavarotti's life. In order to do justice to all there is to see and experience, we recommend taking two days for this tour with a night at one of Modena’s many comfortable hotels in between.
First day: Framing the Life and Career of the Great Maestro
If you arrive in Modena by car or train, you’ll find yourself near the Novi Ark Archaeology Park and its ample underground parking structure near the city center. Here, from 1992 to 2003, Pavarotti & Friends concerts were held, a series of very special recitals that were especially important to Pavarotti as an opportunity to raise funds in his own hometown for needy children all over the world.
Continue on toward the historic center and to sites that still testify to the presence of Pavarotti: the Cathedral of Modena, where Pavarotti’s funeral was held and in which the entire community participated; and the Sala del Vecchio Consiglio in the Palazzo Comunale where a video was shot of a performance by Luciano Pavarotti, his father, Fernando, and the Rossini Chorale.
After a pause for a pleasant lunch in one of the many restaurants in the city center, the excursion continues at the Teatro Comunale, where Pavarotti cultivated his talent and achieved his first successes and which now bears his name. In October 2017, on the tenth anniversary of Pavarotti’s death, a beautiful bronze statue was dedicated in his honor nearby on Largo Goldoni.
To top the day off in the best way possible, attend an opera at the Luciano Pavarotti Theater, so dear to the Maestro that he chose it as the venue for his second wedding. The experience is guaranteed to be unique.
Itinerary
The Novi Ark Archaeology Park
The Pavarotti & Friends concerts that were held at the Novi Ark Park over the years featured the most important international names in rock, pop, and jazz and are fondly recalled in Modena.
Second day: Nearby in Modena
The second day begins at the Luciano Pavarotti House and Museum, where Pavarotti spent his last years. Located just outside the city, the Pavarotti House and Museum is an extraordinary place that brings the great Master to life, retracing his story in the intimate atmosphere of the rooms in which he actually lived.
Nearby, close to the stables and riding school built by Pavarotti, an aficionado of horses and of riding, have lunch at the Europa 92 Restaurant. If you choose the "Luciano Pavarotti menu," you’ll have the chance to taste his favorite dishes. Finally, you can pay your respects to Modena’s great tenor at his grave in the Montale Rangone Cemetery, a few kilometers from Modena. Spend a few moments in homage to him for what he did for music—and for so much more.
The Luciano Pavarotti’s Modena excursion is an opportunity to visit the places where the Maestro lived, where his flourishing career began, and where his greatness was celebrated, and it’s a great way to remember an unparalleled artist.
Itinerary
The Luciano Pavarotti House and Museum
Pavarotti’s home in his final years.
Get in touch with Pavarotti’s human side as you admire his personal possessions and discover his everyday habits, as well as with the personality of the great artist through photos, videos, and a display of the famous costumes that marked his career. For an even more engaging experience at the Pavarotti House and Museum, there’s both a guided tour and a series of special and exclusive events organized there, such as recitals by young opera singers accompanied by live piano.
If you have questions about any of the stops on this tour or would like additional information, let us know. We’ll be glad to help.
