Modenais a city andcomune(municipality) on the south side of thePo Valley, in theProvince of Modenain theEmilia-Romagnaregion ofnorthern Italy. An ancient town, and seat of anarchbishop, it is known for its automotive industry since the factories of the famous Italiansports carmakersFerrari,De Tomaso,Lamborghini,PaganiandMaseratiare, or were, located here and all, except Lamborghini, have headquarters in the city or nearby.
TheUniversity of Modena, founded in 1175 and expanded byFrancesco II d'Estein 1686, has traditional strengths ineconomics,medicineandlawand is the second oldestathenaeumin Italy. Italian military officers are trained at theMilitary Academy of Modena, and partly housed in the BaroqueDucal Palace. The Biblioteca Estense houses historical volumes and 3,000 manuscripts. TheCathedral of Modena, theTorre della Ghirlandinaand Piazza Grande are aUNESCOWorld Heritage Sitesince 1997.
Modena is also known in culinary circles for its production ofbalsamic vinegar.