A typical street occurrence in a town or city in Italy. Locals just bring out their table on the street and eat and drink there together with family, friends and neighbours (and passersby as well!).
Italy is a country that you can easily fall in love with. Seriously, it is also a multifaceted country that has a lot to offer. Art, culture, architecture, history, gastronomy, nature and more. I have only been in the north and the farthest city in the south I have visited was Rome. I have ventured out to Frascati though, which is half an hour south of Rome and home to the locally famous wine of the same name and the once Papal vacation house Castel Gandolfo, now a museum.
I have vowed however to visit all the beautiful places in Italy, one trip, one region, one city and one village at a time. Culture tripping, savouring its local delicacies and just really basking in the dolce vita lifestyle. It sounds very decadent and carefree, but we all want that, don’t we?
[To read the rest of the post and see more pictures, click the Read more link below]
So back to Modena, I am glad that I have visited the city. It’s small, the city centre very compact and there’s a lot to see and enjoy. My highlight here would have to be my visit to the Albinelli Market (Mercato Albinelli). I love food and markets so I am a bit biased. I am sure that everyone visiting Modena will buy its most valued product – the Modena Balsamico, but when I was here, I found myself buying salamis instead. I adore salamis, so again, I am biased, but then, I still have some Modena balsamico at home. Well, 2 bottles even, one for cooking, and the other for dressing.
But other than that, Modena is just a lovely city to walk around, and have a cup of coffee here whilst people watching on a piazza and an aperitivo later there before treating yourself some real Italian fare.
Below you will find the links to my Modena blog posts if you are interested, or you can skip them and scroll down to the photos.
Aperitivo in a Secret Alley (Bar Enoteca Ristretto)
Modena UNESCO World Heritage Site: Piazza Grande, Palazzo Comunale and Modena Cathedral
Via del Taglio Shopping Street and Travel Souvenirs
City Views of Modena from Ghirlandina Bell Tower
Piazza XX Settembre
Tagliatelle al Forno + Spritz Lunch at Piazza Grande
The Delicious Albinelli Market
Ducal Palace and Piazza Roma
The Market and Church at Piazza della Pomposa
Getting Married in Modena
Here is my picture gallery of Modena City. The pictures are not in chronological order and are randomly posted. Do hover your cursor over the pictures for detailed information.
Moi here at the UNIMORE (Universita Degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia). I did not realise the building behind me is a university. I parked at Novi Park and this is where I got out. The city centre is just behind the gates of this university.
Via Luigi Albinelli is the street where the Albinelli Market is located (left on the picture). Now this particular grandma, if you can see her on the picture, seems to have dyed her hair in fiery orange. Although that would seem too forward for me if I was her age, I commend her though for her originality, bravery and I-don't-care-what-you-think attitude.
In Modena (and in the Emilia-Romagna region, especially Bologna), you will find many cafes and restaurants extending their services outdoors in vaulted collonades.
Corso Duomo, the street at the back of the Modena Cathedral. You can see the Chiese della Madonna del Voto at the end of the street.
This is what I love about Italy. Lots of outdoor cafes when the weather is good for it. Well, I guess everywhere in Europe, huh? Although the Italians have the reputation for long lunches and dinner.
Of course, an Alfa Romeo should be on the streets, and not some German or French car.
This is one of my favourite pictures of Modena. That little balcony is just bursting with lots of flower and colour goodness!
For some reason the Italian Police, the Carabinieri arrived and partly cordoned this area.... while this guy continued walking nonchalantly, being so very focused on his mobile phone, unmindful of all the police action around him, haha.
This is just one of the many small churches in Modena, Chiese di San Giorgio.
VIP Modena Onlus is an organisation of clown volunteers helping sick children the weekends in Modena. I just hope Hollywood films would stop featuring clowns as serial killers.
A beautiful Jewish synagogue on Piazza Giuseppi Mazzini.
Travel Period: May 2016
Destination: Modena (Emilia-Romagna), Italy
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
All pictures were taken by a point and shoot pocket camera or a smartphone.
