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Square · Módena, Emília-Romanha
Piazza Grande
Módena's main square, between the Duomo and the Palazzo Comunale. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble together with the cathedral and the Ghirlandina.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Piazza Grande
The Piazza Grande has been Módena's civil and religious centre since the Middle Ages. On one side is the south flank of the Duomo, with the Porta Regia and the Porta dei Principi; on the other, the Palazzo Comunale, seat of the town hall, with its portico and the Torre dell'Orologio.
In a corner of the square stands the Preda Ringadora, a large rectangular stone that served as a platform for speeches, hence the name, which comes from the verb arengar. It was also used to expose debtors and convicts to public shame. On the corner of the Palazzo Comunale stands the Bonissima, a medieval statue of a woman that has become one of the city's symbols.
Inside the Palazzo Comunale, when open, the historic rooms house the original bucket of the Secchia Rapita and frescoes from the 16th and 17th centuries. Visiting the rooms depends on the town hall's schedule.
The square is the starting point for the historic centre: from there the Via Emilia, the city's Roman axis, departs, and the streets with porticoes lead to the Mercato Albinelli and the Palazzo Ducale.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 30 minutes to reach the square. Add 30 minutes if the rooms of the Palazzo Comunale are open.
Best time
In the morning, to combine with a visit to the Duomo, or in the late afternoon, when the people of Módena stroll through the centre. Check the opening times of the Palazzo Comunale's rooms before you go.
How to get there
It is in the centre, about a 15-minute walk from Módena station. The area is pedestrianised.
Tip
Look for the Bonissima on the corner of the Palazzo Comunale, facing the square. The porticoed street behind the town hall leads in a few minutes to the Mercato Albinelli.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Piazza Grande
What is the Preda Ringadora?
A large stone in the square used in the Middle Ages as a platform for speeches and also to display condemned persons to the public.
Where is the original Secchia Rapita?
In the Palazzo Comunale, on Piazza Grande itself. There is a copy in the Ghirlandina.
Is the square a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, together with the Duomo and the Ghirlandina Tower, since 1997.