to most italians modena means fast cars, for both ferrari and maserati have factories in its industrial outskirts.
monuments to an earlier age, however, make this one of emilia's most enticing historic destinatons.
a thriving colony since roman times,the city rose to medieval prominence on the back of its boad agricultural hinteland and the arrival in 1598 of the d'este nobles from ferrara.
this family continued to rule the city until the 18th century.
sights at glance:
1. duomo;
2. palazzo dei musei;
3. galleria ferrari;
environs:
the ferrary factory, 20 km (12 miles) to the south, was founded by enzo ferrari in 1945. the fiat owned manufacturer now produces around 2,500cars annually.