MO'DENA One. illutina), capital of the former dirchy of same name, a fortified city of Northern Italy, 24 in: w.n.w. of Bologna. -Per..71, 30,04. It, stands between the livers Secchia and Pamir°, in a pleasant plain, notes far its'rieh soil and salubrious air, and from its surrounding ramparts commands fine views of the Apenniues. Although the social life of Modena is somewhat stagnant, it is, nevertheless, a most agreeable city. It lies on the famous Via 'Emilia (see EMILIAN PnovixcEs), by which it is divided into the old and new city, and is connected by a navigable canal with the rivers Secchia and Panaro. Among the public buildings may be noted the cathedral of St. Geminianus, the patron of the city, a structure of the purely Lombard style. The campanile or belfry is one of the great towers of Italy; it is a square turreted structure, 315 ft. in height, its entire facade being in white marble. The ducal palace, a picturesque structure of the I7th c., is adorned with an infinity of galleries, courts, and marble arches; it contains the splendid Biblioteca Estense, numbering 100.000 volumes, and 3,000 rare MSS. ; also the valuable Este archives, a most important collection of medieval records, collections of coins and medals of great antiquity, and an observatory. Schools of theology, law, medicine, and mathematics have replaced the university suppressed in 1821; there arc also fine museums of natural history, a botanic garden, theaters, and good public baths.
The trade of Modena is unimportant: the manufactured products are confined to linen and woolen fabrics, leather, hats, paper, glass, and pottery, besides silk manufactured to a much less extent than formerly. Modena is the birthplace of the great anatomist Fallopius, and the antiquary Sigonio.
The ancient history of Modena affords evidence that it enjoyed at an early period a considerable degree of prosperity; the splendor, wealth, and arts of the city of Modena being mentioned by Cicero, Pliny, and Strabo. In modern times Modena has shared more or less the various vicissitudes which befell Italy, and participated in the great internecine feuds of the country. In 960 a member of the great house of Este was pro claimed marquis of Modena, and in 14:52 the then reigning marquis was created duke by the emperor Frederick III. In 1796 Modena formed part of the Cisalpine Republic, but was restored in 1814 by the congress of Vienna to the reigning family. The duchy had at that time an area of 2.310 sq.m., and a pop. of 586,000. In 1848 the duke of Modena was temporarily deprived of his rights; and in 1860 the population definitively expelled their unpopular niter, who carried off all the property and valuables within his reach, including the silver handles of the palace doors. Modena is now a province of the king dom of Italy: area 960 sq.m.; pop. '71, 273,231.