Photo Francesco Pozzi, CC BY 2.0
Modena · Emilia-Romagna
Things to see in Carpi
In Carpi the atlas lists 14 historic places: 5 abbeys and monasteries, 4 museums, 3 historic villas and palaces, 1 castle and 1 historic theatre.
Of these, 1 list opening hours.
Don’t miss: Fossoli concentration camp (1942), human settlement.
By date of construction, the most common period is the Modern era (56% of dated places) and the Middle Ages (22% of dated places).
- 14historic places
- 71,869inhabitants
- 28 maltitude
The town
Carpi is a city in Modena Province, in Italy's Po valley 20 km north of the provincial capital Modena.
Carpi is a large city, with a textile industry and population of some 71,000 in 2017, yet its old centre is compact. It was founded in 752 AD, and ruled by the Pio dynasty from 1319 to 1525 then by the Este family. Between them they created the city's medieval and Renaissance centre, ranged around its impressive piazza. Repairs continue after the earthquake of 2012 but most attractions are open to visit.
The dark side of Carpi is Fossoli concentration camp 5 km north. Some 2000 Jews were dispatched to their death at Auschwitz during World War II.
InCarpi, Piazza Martiri 64, ☏ +39 059 649255. T-Sun 10:00-18:00. The tourist office is in main square.
Text from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA, abridged · Wikivoyage
14 places
Abbeys and monasteries 5
Museums 4
Villas and palaces 3
Castles 1
Historic theatres 1
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Getting there
The nearest airports are in Bologna (BLQ IATA) and in Verona (VRN IATA). They have limited flights and you're probably better flying into Milan or Venice.
Regional trains run every 30 min from Modena to Carpi, taking 15 min, and continue north to Mantua. Change at Modena for trains along the Po valley from Milan, Piacenza, Parma and Reggio Emilia, which continue to Bologna, Rimini and the south.
The 1 railway station is 200 m east of town centre.
SETA Bus 500 runs from Modena every 30 min or so, taking 50 min to Carpi.
The 2 bus station is at Piazzale Allende, which fronts onto Via Baldassarre Peruzzi 500 m west of town centre.
By car follow A22 motorway Modena-Brennero. Reckon an hour from Bologna and 20 mins from Modena.
Text from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA, abridged · Wikivoyage
What to see, according to Wikivoyage
Piazza dei Martiri is the centrepiece of the city. At 300 m by 150 m it's Italy's third biggest square, with all the city's principal buildings around it.
Palazzo dei Pio (Town hall), Piazza dei Martiri. The Pio dynasty's palace in the main piazza is a ramshackle collection of buildings from 11th to 17th century, variously defensive (with a moat), decorative or civic. There are two museums inside: the City Museum and Second World War Prisoners Museum. Enter beneath the clock tower into the courtyard. Ascend the grand stairway to the frescoed piano nobile. The art gallery has Renaissance paintings and ceramics.
Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta (Cathedral), Piazza dei Martiri. Built from 1514 but not consecrated until 1791, with a Baroque dome and three Renaissance aisles within. It was damaged by the 2012 earthquake but re-opened in 2017. 15 Aug is the solemn procession marking the Assumption of the Virgin into Heaven.
Santa Maria in Castello (Chiesa della Sagra), Piazza dei Martiri. The parish church is the city's oldest, founded in 752 though rebuilt in Romanesque style in 1184; the façade was added in 1514.
Text from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA, abridged · Wikivoyage · Underlined names link to our own pages.