Discover the "Ex albergo diurno" (The former Day-Use hotel)
In the year 1930, Piazza Mazzini was chosen as the site of the Day-Use hotel (Albergo Diurno) because the piazza was centrally located and was already known as a place for public gatherings and social and cultural events. The Day-Use Hotel was built completely underground, occupying the entire area beneath the sidewalk, in order not to interfere with the harmony of the piazza and its greenery.
Access to the hotel is through a stairway at the southeast corner of the garden. Closed for thirty years, the old Day-Use Hotel has reopened with a renewed respect for its historical value and a new purpose.
Today, the former Albergo Diurno is a multifunction space open to the public.
How to visit
Admission to the Ex Albergo Diurno is free and reservations are not required.
Interested parties may reserve a place on a guided tour using the “Book now” red button on this page.
No-cost guided tours (reservations required):
The visit includes a tour of the renovated building, where modern features such as tempered glass, contrasting finishes in white and anthracite black, captivating illumination, and an automated system for facility management are blended with elements restored from the 1930s: colorful ceramic tile cladding typical of that era, bathtubs, and other bathroom fixtures.
A tour guide will explain the structure’s former function, how restorations were carried out, and intentions for its new life as a tourist attraction.
A new immersive video, “The City in History” will also be shown. The video was designed specifically to be projected on the three walls of the multipurpose hall via a state-of-the-art multimedia system. The three-minute sensory experience immerses visitors in the past, present, and future of Modena and, to the accompaniment of violins, highlights the region’s most outstanding features. The experience concludes with an overview of the city’s unique offerings, starting with the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and time is set aside for questions and information request
The site is accessible to people with disabilities.
Hours
- Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: Open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Closed the morning of New Year’s Day and Christmas
