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Modena is a historic center rich in culture that you can experience in its museums, monuments, art, and entertainment. It offers the traveler or expat a relaxed lifestyle but culture-rich lifestyle.
The city of Modena is located in Northern Italy. And, it’s big enough that it offers all the amenities and services necessary but small enough to avoid traffic and crowds.
Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.
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A couple could live well in Modena, Italy, for about US$1,800 a month.
That is considerably lower than most costs of living in the States. Just imagine, you can upgrade your quality of life and lower your monthly budget at the same time. You can do exactly that in Modena, Italy.
And, if you’re looking to enjoy a few indulgences and luxuries, your monthly budget will be closer to US$1,800.
For a retired couple with no children, these are the basic expenses you can expect to pay, starting with rent.
A one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in the city center will rent for US$690. The cost of that same one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment outside of the city center is US$567 per month. The price difference in Modena, Italy, isn’t too high.
Where you could really mark a difference in your budget is groceries. A couple’s grocery shopping cost for the month could come to about US$300. Also, this will vary significantly depending on what you decide to add to your grocery list.
Living in Italy means you’ll find products that you can purchase fresh at farmer’s markets, butcher shops, and seafood markets for less.
Something else that’ll have a positive impact on your monthly budget is transportation. The fact that the university attracts a lot of young people to study means public transportation is reliable and affordable.
A one-way bus ticket costs US$2 and a monthly bus ticket is just US$40. Taxi fares start at US$5.
You can walk all of Modena’s historical city center, but your best bet is to use buses if you’re venturing further out of the city.
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Modena is a small, charming city filled with history.
Here’s a list of places to visit and things to do while you’re in Modena.
Piazza Grande was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. This is the heart of the city of Modena. Most if not all of its historical events occurred here.
A lot of Modena’s attractions are in Piazza Grande. Cathedral of Modena, the Town Hall, and the Tower Ghirlandina can be found here.
Cathedral of Modena is in Piazza Grande. It was built in 1099 and consecrated in 1184. Aside from being a cathedral, the building also houses a museum, where you’ll find fragments of sculptures as well as earlier buildings from Roman times.
This is one of the most popular sites to visit in Modena. While you’re here, make sure to head up the Torre Ghirlandia, the cathedral’s bell tower. Climbing up the 201 steps to the top of the 282 feet tower will give you incredible views of the city.
The Albinelli Market has been present in Modena since the 1900s and it’s located in the Piazza XX Settembre.
It hasn’t changed much since it opened. In fact, some stalls are run by descendants of the same families that operated them back when the market started.
If you’re traveling or if you decided to move to Modena, this is a great place to get part of your weekly groceries. Here you can buy fresh vegetables, pastas, meats, and fruits freshly cut or picked for a considerably lower price.
If you’re a foodie, you need to try a tigella, also called a crescentina.
This is a thin round piece of bread that typically eaten with a spread made of pork lard, garlic, and rosemary.
However, nowadays you can ask for it to be filled with just about anything you like—cheese, salty dressings, or some sort of sweet spread.
Don’t miss out on Modena’s first street food.
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Via Emilia is a 2,000-year-old street in the city center.
It’s where a lot of artisan shops, bars, and arcades are located, making it very popular among locals and visitors.
If you’re visiting Piazza Grande, you should take advantage of the proximity and take the two-minute walk to Via Emilia.
Gallerie Estensi is an art gallery that exhibits works that belonged to the Dukes of Este.
The gallery has four halls and 16 exhibit rooms where you’ll see marble and terracotta sculptures, as well as medals, pottery, and musical instruments.
You’ll find the Gallerie Estensi on the top floor of the Palazzo dei Musei.
If you’re an art lover, make sure to schedule a visit to the Gallerie Estensi.
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The Palazzo dei Muzei is in Piazza Sant’Agostino and was built in the mid-18th century.
Originally constructed to house the military arsenal, it now houses several cultural institutions such as the Gallerie Estensi, the Civic Museum of Modena, the Historical Archives of Modena, and more.
The museum has a book shop, a cafeteria, and a laboratory where people host educational workshops.
The Enzo Ferrari Museum is a tribute to the man who drove and founded the Ferrari manufacturer.
On your visit you’ll get to view videos and photos of when everything started. You’ll also pass by a futuristically themed car exhibition hall.
Retirement in Modena gives you the chance to increase your quality of life while keeping a low budget.
Plus, it’s a city full of history, art, and culture, so you won’t have trouble finding something to do.
From vineyards, castles, museums, to delicious food, you’ll find it in Modena. Plus, you can always jump on a bus or train and travel to neighboring cities.
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Starting the moving process to Modena, Italy, might be overwhelming at first, it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing situation.
If for some reason Modena doesn’t live up to your wants and needs, you can always pack up and try someplace new. You could even move back to the States to regroup and try again later.
When trying to decide what to bring along with you, we always recommend as little as possible. Focus on packing the essentials since you’ll find larger items and things like pots and pans in Modena.
Bring things like your clothes, shoes, laptop, and camera. Larger stuff like bed frames, couches, dining tables, chairs, and bookshelves are things you can find in Modena.
These items might prove to be cheaper to buy once you’re there, rather than paying a moving company to ship them.
Most importantly, U.S. citizens need a visa if they intend to retire in Italy. The best choice is the Elective Residency Visa (Visto per Residenza Elettiva o Dimora).
Before traveling, you must apply for this visa at the Italian consulate in your home country. It’s likely that the application process will take a while, so start as soon as you make your decision to reloate.
Modena has a humid subtropical climate, which means it’s generally warm, but you will experience chilly winters here.
The highest summer temperature in Modena is 81°F (30°C) while the lowest winter temperature usually reaches 29°F (0°C).
Modena experiences quite a bit of rain during the year. For example, the rainiest month is usually April. In short, take that into consideration when planning your exploration trip.
Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.
We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
Modena is where world-famous car factories like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati are found.
Unless the traveler is a car lover, chances are Modena, Italy, isn’t high on their list.
The good news about this is that prices aren’t as high as other more touristy destinations and when you wander, you’re less likely to bump into crowds of tourists.
Modena is a producer of prosciutto, balsamic vinegar, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. These are three of Italy’s most well-known heritage foods.
Short answer: yes.
Modena, Italy, is a fantastic place to consider retiring if you’re looking to reduce your monthly budget and elevate your quality of life in a small city filled with history, music, art, and culture.
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