Modena (province) - Geography, History, Main sights, Sport, Twinnings

Historic province in present-day Emilia-Romagna region, N Italy; conquered by the Romans (2nd-c BC); the Este family, Lords of Ferrara, controlled the territory from the 14th-c; during the French occupation (1796) it became part of the Cispadane Republic, and later of the Cisalpine Republic; incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy (1805); modern province established in 1859.

Comune di Modena
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Emilia-Romagna
Province	Modena (MO)
Mayor	Giorgio Pighi
Elevation	34 m
Area	182 km²
Population
- Total (as of August 31, 2005)	180,638
- Density	989/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	44°39′N 10°56′E
Gentilic	Modenesi
Dialing code	059
Postal code	41100
Frazioni	Albareto, Baggiovara, Ca' Fusara, Cognento, Cittanova, Collegara, Ganaceto, Lesignana, Marzaglia, Navicello, Portile, San Damaso, San Donnino, Tre Olmi, Villanova
Patron	San Geminiano
- Day	January 31
Location of Modena in Italy
Website: www.comune.modena.it

Modena (IPA: ['mɔdena];

An ancient town, it is the seat of an archbishop, but is now mostly known as "the capital of engines", since the factories of most famous Italian car makers like De Tomaso, Ferrari, Pagani and Maserati are located there.

The University of Modena, founded in 1683 by Francesco II d'Este, has traditional strengths in medicine and law. Italian officers are trained at the Italian Military Academy, located in Modena, and partly housed in the Baroque ducal palace.

Modena is well known in culinary circles for its production of balsamic vinegar. Other famous Modenesi are the operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti, born in Modena itself; and the rock singer Vasco Rossi who was born in Zocca, one of the 47 Comuni in the Province of Modena.

Geography

Modena lies on the Pianura Padana, and is bounded by the two rivers Secchia and Panaro, both affluents of the Po River. These are:

Centro storico (Historical Center, San Cataldo) Crocetta (San Lazzaro-East modena, Crocetta) Buon Pastore (Buon Pastore) San Faustino (S.Faustino-Saliceta San Giuliano, Madonnina-Quattro Ville)

History

Ancient times

The territory around Modena (Roman Mutina, Etruscan Muoina) was inhabited by the Villanovans in the Iron Age, and later by Ligurian tribes, Etruscans, and the Gaulish Boii (the settlement itself being Etruscan). It is said that Mutina was never sacked by Attila, for a dense fog hid it (a miracle said to be provided by Saint Geminianus, bishop and patron of Modena), but it was eventually buried by a great flood in the 7th century and abandoned.

Middle Ages

Its exiles founded a new city a few miles to the northwest, still represented by the village of Cittanova. About the end of the 9th century, Modena was restored and refortified by its bishop, Ludovicus. In the wars between Emperor Frederick II and Pope Gregory IX Modena sided with the emperor.

The Este family were identified as lords of Modena from 1288 (Obizzo d'Este). After the death of Obizzo's successor (Azzo VIII, in 1308) the commune reasserted itself, but by 1336 the Este family was permanently in power: for Borso d'Este Modena was made a duchy. In the 18th century Rinaldo d'Este was twice driven from his city by French invasions, and Francesco III built many of Modena's public buildings, but the Este pictures were sold and wound up, many of them, in Dresden. Ercole III died in exile at Treviso, having refused Napoleonic offers of compensation when Modena was made part of the Napoleonic Cispadane Republic. Quickly, in 1816, he dismantled the fortifications that might well have been used against him and began Modena's unhappy years under Austrian rule, reactionary and despotic, using the Austrian army to put down a rebellion in 1830. His equally reactionary son Francesco V, was temporarily expelled from Modena in the European Revolution of 1848, but was restored by Austrian troops. Ten years later, on August 20, 1859, the representatives of Modena declared their territory part of the Kingdom of Italy, a decision that was confirmed by the plebiscite of 1860.

Main sights

The Cathedral and the Ghirlandina

The Cathedral of Modena and the annexed campanile are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begun under the direction of the Countess Matilda of Tuscany with its first stone laid June 6, 1099 and its crypt ready for the city's patron, Saint Geminianus, and consecrated only six years later, the Duomo of Modena was finished in 1184. In Wiligelmus' sculpure at Modena, the human body takes on a renewed physicality it had lost in the schematic symbolic figures of previous centuries. Modena's Duomo inspired campaigns of cathedral and abbey building in emulation through the valley of the Po.

Ducal Palace

The Ducal Palace, begun by Francesco I d'Este in 1634 from the designs of Bartolomeo Avanzini, and finished by Francis Ferdinand V, was the sear of the Este court from the 17th to the 19th century.

The Palace houses the Accademia Militare di Modena, the Military Museum and a precious Library.

Communal Palace

Facing the Piazza Grande (part of UNESCO World Heritage), the Communal Palace was made up in the 17th-18th centuries of the several pre-existing edifices built starting from 1046 as communal offices. It is currently the Town Hall of Modena.

It is characterized by a Watchtower (Torre dell'Orologio, late 15th century), once paired by another tower (Torre Civica) demolished after an earthquake in 1671. Also a memory of the Middle Ages Modena are the Preda Ringadora, a rectangular marble stone next to the portico of the palace, used as oratorial platform, and the statue called La Bonissima ("The Very Good"): the latter, portraying a feminine figure, was erected in the square in 1268 and later moved over the portico.

Museum Palace

The Palace Museum, on the St. Augustine square, is an example of civil architecture from the Este, built as the Poors' Hostle together with the nearby Hospital in the late 18th century. Today it houses the main museums of Modena:

Estense Gallery, with works by Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese, Guido Reni, Correggio, Cosmé Tura and the Carracci brothers. Traces of a 14th century fresco di Tommaso da Modena can still be seen. The church of St. Francis was built by the Franciscans from 1244, and finished after more than two centuries. The current edifice is from 1476, built next to a Benedictine abbey founded in 996 oustide the city walls, and is one of the few Renaissance architecture in Modena. The Synagogue, next to the Palazzo Comunale, was built from 1873 by Jew Community of Modena in Lombardesque style.

Sport

Modena has a strong sporting culture, linked mainly to motor racing, volleyball and football. The town's football club, Modena F.C., plays in Serie B, the Italian second division. Volleyball plays an important role in Modena's sport history, Panini Modena club having won 11 National championships, 4 Champion's League and a handful more trophies.

Twinnings

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