You probably know that Modena is world famous for culinary excellence (balsamic vinegar, tortellini, cotechini, and much more). You may know that Modena, in addition to Ferrari, produces such jewels as Maserati and Pagani.

If you have already been there, or even if you live there, you might think that once you have visited the “great classics” (such as the Duomo, the Ghirlandina, the Palazzo Ducale, the Albinelli Market) Modena has no more great stories to tell.

What we want to offer you in this article is a small taste of the many hidden gems, curiosities, and fascinating stories that this city has in store for you. Do you want to discover them all, including the ones that even the locals ignore? Then read to the end for a bombshell tip!

What you’ll find in this post

1. Fun facts and hidden gems in Modena

The treasure of Pomposia
The Lambrusco wine fountain
The lovers of Modena at Palace of Museums
The mistery of the Knights of the Round Table
The story of Panini stickers

2. Discover all the secrets of Modena one riddle at a time with ClueGo

Fun facts and hidden gems in Modena

Did you know that the remains of the so-called “Lambrusco Fountain” exist in Modena? Or that engraved on the walls of its Cathedral are ancient connections, still shrouded in mystery, with the Knights of King Arthur? We also bet you didn't expect to discover the story of the monk who more than 1,000 years ago invented the system of musical notes we still use today!

You can't say you really know Modena if you haven't discovered all of its hidden gems, so here are 5 facts to amaze even your Modenese friends with!

1. The treasure of Pomposia

Welcoming us with its pastel-colored palaces that still retain their resurgent appearance, Piazza della Pomposa owes its name to the church of Santa Maria della Pomposa, dating back to the year 1153 and a former dependency of the much more famous Pomposa Abbey in Comacchio. Pomposia was a small island hidden within the lagoon created by the mouth of the Po River, a place said to be detectable only by pilgrims or monks who resided there.

Numerous times marauders and pirates, attracted by rumors of hidden treasure, tried to plunder it but none of those expeditions seem to have ever returned. One treasure we are sure to have recovered, however: it was in Pomposia Abbey that around the year 1000 the monk Guido d'Arezzo created the present system of musical notes Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Si.

2. The Lambrusco Fountain

For an all-Modenese story, we tell you about the origin of the “innkeeper's phonticle”, which you can find on the left side of the Pomposa church: One of the most influential figures in 20th-century Modena was Telesforo Fini, known for bringing some Italian culinary delights, including salumi and tortellini, to international prominence. In 1912 he and his wife Giuditta opened a modest store on Corso Canalchiaro (still visible). The exceptional goodness of their products won the palates of the people of Modena, and the family business grew into a full-fledged restaurant. But with fame also came envy, and some malevolent restaurateurs spread an infamous rumor: Telesforo, the shrewd innkeeper, would dilute Lambrusco wine with water to save money. In derisive response to the malicious tongues, Telesforo decided to have a fonticolo built in this square, adding the engraving of these words in Latin, “Telesforo Fini, by far the first innkeeper of Modena, donated this fountain to the city because with too much water he had diluted the wine.”

3. The lovers of Modena at Palace of Museums

Don't be fooled by the name. The Palace of the Museums is neither a huge, scattered maze of exhibition halls nor a boring place reserved for school field trips. Instead, just a short walk from you in nearby Largo Sant'Agostino, the Palace of Museums is an intimate and welcoming place where you can make intriguing discoveries and take a relaxing break from the chaos of the city.

Inside you can find the Archivio Cittadino, which collects documents, evidence and historical maps starting from the year 1000. You'll also find the Gallerie Estensi, a private collection of the Lords of Modena filled with 500 years of masterpieces including paintings by Correggio, sculptures by Bernini and especially the portrait of Duke Francesco I d'Este by Velasquez (you'll also find it on the bottles of a well-known local brand of balsamic vinegar!). The Lapidario Estense, on the other hand, is Modena's first public museum and allows you to trace all 2,200 years of Modenese history. One of the most fascinating exhibits is the pair of Roman-era skeletons found with their hands intertwined palm to palm. Contrary to what was thought until recently, a recent study has revealed that the “Lovers of Modena” were not two individuals of opposite sex but two men. Were they really lovers? Or were they friends, relatives or fellow soldiers? Go and find out!

4. The mistery of the Knights of the Round Table

The most fascinating structure on this side is undoubtedly the Fish Market Gate, so called because this was where the stall for selling fish was located. It was, however, a very important entrance at the time since it was from here that the people could enter to participate in the celebrations.
On the inside facade of the jambs are the 12 months of the year, depicted with scenes of life and work related to the season (chopping wood, planting and harvesting grain, grape harvest, etc.). However, the carvings on this door conceal quite another mystery, still unsolved, related to none other than...King Arthur and his knights. In the frame of the archivolt we find depicted the story of the rescue of Guinevere, Arthur's bride, held captive in the castle of the evil Mardoc.
What scholars are still wondering about is how it is possible that an episode first circulated in Europe beginning in 1136 with the Historia Regum Britannie by Godfrey of Monmouth could be found depicted on a doorway erected as early as 1110, that is, decades earlier.

Perhaps there was a special, and as yet unknown, connection between ancient Mutina and the Knights of the Round Table? And again: why did the builders of the cathedral choose to depict this very legend in this specific spot? What was it meant to signify? One particularly well-supported theory holds that it was Matilda of Canossa, the most powerful woman in 11th-century Italy, who financed part of the cathedral's construction and used King Arthur's rescue of Guinevere as an allegory for the conquest of Jerusalem, which was first attacked in the very year the Duomo's construction began, 1099, during the First Crusade (strongly supported by Matilda).

5. The story of Panini stickers

For some they represent a childhood memory, for others a true passion. Panini stickers are a treasure of which Modena is extremely proud and which has its own museum right here, just a few steps from the Delfini library.

Born out of the collecting passion of Giuseppe Panini, co-owner since 1945 of a small newsstand near the Duomo, the Museo della Figurina allows visitors to take a journey back in time through the history of this unique graphic product since its inception in the second half of the 19th century.

These "figurine", originally distributed as promotional giveaways along with products of all kinds, were presented as small, richly detailed prints that were meant to attract customers' attention. People liked these cards so much that they began to be collected in albums until, with the spread of soccer in the 1960s and the invention of self-adhesive stickers in the 1970s, these little pictures became a real mass phenomenon.

If you had a keen eye, you may have noticed the commemorative plaque depicting Carlo Parola's iconic overhead kick (original cover of the Panini Sticker Album) near the Duomo, where the Panini family's kiosk once stood.

Today Panini is a publicly traded company that turns over billions of euros, not only with figurines, certainly, but also with the printing of comic books and collectible almanacs.

Discover all the secrets of Modena one riddle at a time with ClueGo

No need to argue. Visiting a city with a local friend, who is able to show it to you in a unique light and reveal not only the main places but all the lesser-known secrets, is a totally different experience from visiting it on your own map in hand or with a classic tour guide. You just need to know which detail to observe, which alleys to take, which shop to enter, and you can return home with a far richer and more indelible store of memories than other “superficial” travelers.

ClueGo is a 100% Italian platform specializing in just that. It offers self-guided riddle trail that allow you to explore many Italian cities in complete autonomy by solving puzzles and riddles related to the careful observation of the place, making the traveler discover those places and stories that are less known and that allow you to see a more authentic side of your destination.

You will find yourself immersed in a real treasure hunt through the streets of the city, looking for a detail on a statue or a hidden engraving on the facade of a building!
The ultimate goal of these riddle walks is not only to show you the main sights of the city but, above all, to uncover the hidden gems, stories and legends (often unknown even to locals) that allow you to appreciate and better understand the tradition of the place by deviating from the classic “beaten paths.” Not only that, you will also be recommended artisan workshops and traditional places where you can find local specialties while avoiding tourist traps. In short, no more of the usual fridge magnets as souvenirs!

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Modena you don’t expect: 5 fun facts and hidden gems