Castelvetro di Modena is located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy in the province of Modena. The town is located close to the cities of Modena and Bologna. The town is spread over an area of 49 sq km and has a population of close to 10,500.
The town is actually quite small but because of the rise in agritourism in the last few years, the number of tourists visiting this town has increased. Plenty of people visit the town to experience the laid-back atmosphere of the town and its natural beauty.
Getting to Castelvetro di Modena
Castelvetro di Modena is located quite close to Bologna and Modena. The easiest way to reach the town is by road. The state buses operating in this region are quite regular and comfortable. Visitors can easily get a bus for Castelvetro di Modena from the bus stations in Modena and Bologna. The tickets are not very expensive. Visitors can also drive down to Castelvetro di Modena easily. The A1 motorway can be followed from Modena to reach the town. Castelvetro di Modena is only 15 km from Modena and 30 km from Bologna so reaching the town is fairly easy.
Moving Around the Town
The easiest way to move around the town is on foot. Castelvetro di Modena is quite compact and there are only four to five attractions in town so they can all be covered on foot within one day. There are local buses operating in the town so visitors can use them as well. Those who have their own cars can also drive around but it would not really be needed since there aren’t many places to visit within the city. However, those who want to explore the areas located on the outskirts and the neighboring villages can use cars to travel around the region.
Attractions in Castelvetro di Modena
Castello
The castle of Castelvetro di Modena is believed to have been built in town at the time of Roman rule in the region. According to scholars, the castle was built in the 5th century for protecting the settlement from invaders and was built along with walls surrounding the entire town. The castle is a large complex, with several important buildings within like towers, ancient churches, and a palace. Quite a lot of buildings have been damaged over the centuries and had to be rebuilt or repaired but the castle still retains its medieval look.
Palazzo Communale
Palazzo Communale is the Town Hall of Castelvetro di Modena. The palace was originally built as a residence for a noble family in the town and was restored in the 18th century. Several changes have been made to the building since then and new additions have now been made. The Town Hall of today has beautiful architecture, however, only a few rooms are open to visitors.
La Chiesa Parrocchiale
La Chiesa Parrocchiale is one of the most important churches in Castelvetro di Modena. The church was consecrated in 1907. The church has beautiful architecture and the interior has been decorated quite elegantly. Inside the church, there are beautiful artworks possibly from the 14th century, several frescoes, and ornamental decorations. The architecture is neo-gothic and inside there are three naves and a beautiful sculpture.
Torre dell Orologio
Torre dell Orologio stands tall and dominates the skyline of the town. The tower was built as per the fortification plans along with the city walls and the castle. In 1326, the tower had been heavily damaged and had to be renovated. Most of the façade that visitors would see today is not the original one.
Palazzo Rangoni Castelvetro di Modena
Palazzo Rangoni is a must visit for several different reasons. It isn’t known when exactly the palace had been built, but a similar palace is known to have been at the exact location in 8th century. The palace has been beautifully built and is quite large. The entrance is very large, in the olden day’s horse carriages used to enter from that way. The lobby is quite intimidating and has been decorated with shells. There is a beautiful courtyard and a large balcony that looks over it. The interior is equally beautiful with beautiful carvings and attention to detail.
Stay and Accommodation
Castelvetro di Modena is quite a small town but it does attract a few tourists that come here to enjoy its laid back lifestyle and its natural beauty. With the rise in agritourism several people come here to experience the rural Italian village. There are quite a lot of good hotels, Bed and Breakfasts in the town. There are also a few farm houses and country homes which can be rented by visitors if they plan to stay longer in the town. Some of the best hotels in town are Locanda Del Feudo, Hotel Guerro, Hotel S. Eusebio, B&B Poggio 25, I Boschi B&B, B&B Ca De Scatoli and B&B Borgo Celeste.
Eating in Castelvetro di Modena
There are plenty of options in terms of restaurants and pizzerias in Castelvetro di Modena. The town has quite a lot of good places to eat where visitors can good home style cooking made from fresh grown ingredients from the region. There are a few cafes and bars in town where visitors can get good wine and light lunch dishes like pastas and sandwiches. Some of the best restaurants in Castelvetro di Modena are Trattoria La Strana Copia, Hosteria Del Rio, Osteria Del Grillo, Ristorante II Castello, Ristorante La Mandragola, Ristorante Osteria del Garo and pizzeria ristorante Desideria.
Shopping in Castellvetro di Modena
There are plenty of things that visitors can purchase in Castelvetro di Modena. The town has several small shops for handicrafts that sell antiques, pottery, sculptures and textiles which can be found in the older section of the town. There are also a few shops in the town that sell good quality balsamic vinegar, olive oil and cheese. There are plenty of wine shops in town where visitors can find good quality local wine.
