La Campanella

Claudio was a wonderful host. I had told him before that we were older and if there was no elevtor and the apartemnt is not on the ground floor, we would need help. When we arrived he was there to help us with the suitcsases, to let us in and give us the keys, and to show us everything we needed to know, both about the apartment and about the city. He told us about restaurants, sights, taxis, and everything else we needed to know. The apartment had everything we needed and more - including juice, milk, rolls, cookies, and cereal for breakfast. The location was perfect and within walking distance of everything in the older town. And I say that as an octegenarian who has some mobility issues.

I can't think of one thing negative about the apartment or Claudio. I will offer, however, a few words about the sights in Modena. We came with the plan to see Pavarotti's home museum, and we were not disappointed. The home is mostly as he left it, and it was a privilege to see his life there and mementos from his career and those he had known. Wonderful and moving. We had no car, but traveled to and from Pavarotti's home by taxi. The taxi system in Modena is excellent. You call or text them and they send the nearest taxi. Even way out in the countryside, we only had to wait 4 minutes. We planned to go to a place to see how balsamic vinegar was made, but instead stopped at a shop run by a balsamic vinegar company, and learned a lot there about the different kinds of vinegar and how they are made. I now understand why some kinds are both tastier and more expensive than what I typically buy in the USA. We tasted various kinds and found the perfect one for us. Later I saw that what we bought was available on Amazon, but for a much higher price. The third thing we wanted to see was the Ferrari museum(s). We were told there was a shuttle between the two, and that was true, but it didn't work out. We started at the Enzo Ferrari museum in Modena, and bought tickets for both that and the factory/museum in the countryside. The shuttle ticket was not available at the ticket booth. The shuttle cost €12 each way, we think, but that the bus was almost full when it showed up, so we were not allowed to get on. The shuttles only run twice each day in each direction. So we went back into the Enzo Ferrari Museum, but that tour was a disappointment. For €22 each (senior rate) we saw a couple of videos of Enzo Ferrari talking, maybe a dozen but surely fewer than 20 cars. While I saw some that were truly beautiful, and my husband enjoyed looking at the engines on display, it was not worth what we paid.

Great location. Comfy and well set up, lovely host, thanks Claudio.

La Campanella is a perfectly located first floor flat in the heart of historic Modena, with excellent cafes and restaurants, shops and the major attractions, from the Duomo to the Ferrari Museum, all just a short walk away. Claudio met us at the door and explained all the features of the flat and had some excellent suggestions for places to eat nearby and even checked everything was fine during our stay. The flat is spacious and had everything we needed.

The flat is on a quiet side street, but one neighbour a few doors down did leave about 7am weekdays on a motorbike - for a city centre location though it was generally peaceful and quiet at night, you couldn't hear any noise from the square round the corner.

Location perfect, quite spacious. Easy to find owner very nice.

Quite old, needs updating, not a good breakfast.