|
|
|
Modena - Duomo
|
Modena Art & History
Modena,
agreeable city of the Po Plan rises long the Emilia street. It
is known in all over the world for the Ferrari motorist with
seat in Maranello. With its rich province of parish churches and
Romanesque castles is considered a true artistic jewel.
True artistic jewel, obligatory destination for
whom passes from the Emilia Romagna, here is possible to admire
buildings in perfect Romanesque style and the palaces rised under
the Estensi; sole is the Cathedral, one of the most renowned and
whole Romanesque examples that was built in 1099 on project of the
architect Lanfranco. Main
also the ancient Library of Duchi d'Este, one of the most valued
libraries of Italy for its collections of minitaure codices and
works ad the Bible of Borso d'Este.
Near Modena, at about 17 kilometre from the chief town, find the Natural Reserve of the Salse
of Nirano, placed in the hilly part of the territory of the Common
of Fiorano Modenese, that is extended for 200 hectares between
courses of water Fossa and Chianca.
Mosena is, in the world, synonim
of good cooking and, in this town, eat good is an art handed down of
generation in generation, is able to give life at dishes based on a
genuine culinary and good plain tradition. Dainty are the cold cuts,
first between all the raw ham, then, fabled tortellini in soup made
with the stuffing at base of pork, ham and Parmesan.
|
|
This, in short, the story of the town:
Follow us in this virtual tour of the town: begin from the Museum
Building, in largo Porta Sant'Agostino, to South of the Novi Sad
Park: the Palace entertains the
Estense Gallery, that contains printed books, sixteenth century
incunabula, and numerous miniature codices from the 14th to the 16th
centuries. The most precious text is the famous Borso d'Este
Bible, a masterpiece of Ferrara illumination work (15th
century).
In the same structure there is besides the
Estense Gallery, between the most important Italian collections
and reflects the Este family's interest in paintings and sculpture,
but also archaeology and the minor arts. Valuable items include the
marble bust of Francesco I d'Este by Bernini, the portrait of
Francesco I by Velasquez, Saint Anthony of Padua by Cosmè
Tura, the Madonna and child by Correggio, a Triptych by El Greco and a Crucifix by Guido Reni.
The nucleus of Po valley
paintings from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century is
outstanding. Here there is also the
Archaeological Ethnological Civic Museum contains the earliest
evidence of the presence of human begins in the Modena area.
Alongside materials from the Neolithic era, the Copper Age, the
Bronze Age and the first half of the Iron Age, evidence may be seen
of Etruscan, Celtic and Gallic rule and of Roman Modena.
|
Modena - Palazzo Ducale
|
The
ethnological collections include fabrics, ornaments, weapons and
ceramics from New Guinea, from pre-Columbian Peru, from South
America, Africa and Asia. In the
Civic Art Museum paintings, ceramics, musical instruments,
scientific instruments and weapons document the transformation of
the city from the Middle Ages to modern times. The Count Gandini
collection of ancient fabrics is exquisite.
|
Modena - Piazza Grande
|
The historical center of the town, can be identified with Piazza
Grande on which is appeared the Cathedral; its construction began in
1099 and was consecrated by Pope Lucio III in 1184.
It is one of the
greatest masterpieces of the European Romanesque due both to Lanfranco's architectural structure and to Wiligelmo's sculptural
work.
Modifications to the original project were carried out between
XII and XIV century by the Campionesi masters. The facade is divided
into three sections that correspond to the naves. Beneath the
rose-window (XII century) there is the Great Door, sculpted
by Wiligelmo, who was also the author of the four stone panels
depicting stories from the Book of Genesis.
On the South side there
is the Princes Door, a work by the so-called Maestro of San
Geminiano and other followers of Wiligelmo, and the Regia Door
(about 1178) in red Veronese marble. On the northern side, on the
other hand, there is the Peschiera Door, evidence of the
influence of Burgundy art.
Inside of the Cathedral one may see, for
instance, the rood-screen with relief work by Anselmo da
Campione (about 1160-1180) and the Terracotta nativity
scene by Antonio Begarelli of Modena (1527).
|
The crypt contains the tomb of the patron Saint Gaminiano and the Madonna
della pappa in painted terracotta by Guido Mazzoni (1480). The
Ghirlandina Tower,, which had already been built up to the
fifth floors in 1169, was finished in 1319 by the Campionesi
masters: 87 meters high, has had civic functions: from the tower
guards signaled the opening of the city gates and guarded the
coffers of the City Council.
|
Always
on Piazza Grande rises the Town Hall and incorporated "faced"
medieval buildings from the 17th century onwards. The Secchia
Rapita (Stolen Bucket) is kept in the building. According to
tradition, the Modenese took it from the Bolognese in 1325 (it
became the emblem of civic values and inspired the famous
mock-heroic poem "The Stolen Bucket" by Alessandro Tassoni).
Also
worth visiting are the Sala del Fuoco (Fire Room) with frescoes by
Nicolò dell'Abate, created in 1546 and the eighteenth century Sala
del Vecchio Consiglio (Old Council Room), where one may see the city
elders' stalls and the banner painted by Ludovico Lana in 1633 as a
thanksgiving for the end of the plague. The ceiling paintings are by
Ercole dell'Abate and Bartolomeo Schedoni. The eighteenth century
paintings of the Sala degli Arazzi (Tapestry Room) depict the
preparation and signature of the Costance Peace Treaty (1183), the
"manifesto" of municipal independence. |
Modena - Palazzo Comunale
|
Courtesy of
Modena Tourist Office
(c) 1997-2008 E. Massetti
TangoItalia - Food Wine Travel in Italy - Home
|
