The Modena Cathedral

To get into the true spirit of this excursion, our advice would be to direct your attention to the ancient bas-reliefs and decorative sculptures on the Cathedral’s exterior. The Modena Cathedral has often been called a “book in stone” because of the Biblical stories depicted on its façade. Each portal is adorned with friezes of plants, forests, and monstrous and fantastical beings.

On the columns of the Porta Regia, which faces Piazza Grande, look for floral decorations and, on the carved jambs of the Porta della Pescheria (the Fish Market Gate), stop to admire the monthly calendar that marked the time and seasons during the Middle Ages. In the month of April, notice the elegant gentleman who holds a flower in his hand.