We pick up a hire car from the airport in Florence and drive through the countryside to the small city of Modena. It’s famous for it automotive industry and at one time in its history housed the headquarters of Ferrari, Maserati, Pagani, De Tomaso and Lamborghini. It’s now most noted for being the home of the Enzo Ferrari Museum but is also a central location for an easy train commute to Bologna and Parma which we are keen to visit.

It is a very walkable city, flat and with less traffic than the chaotic madness of Rome and Florence. The food though is as good as any stop we have made to date and our accommodation is a quirky mix of Italian and French charm. The apartment is contained within a private courtyard but up four floors. Thankfully there is a lift to help transport us and our luggage as the stairs do not look at all inviting. Our host, Edna, greets us and shows us to our rooms. 

Even though this is a single apartment you can rent the rooms separately so Nic has her own room with its own ensuite as do we. The living area is on the same level as the bedrooms and has a small study coming off it but, as much of the area is a reclaimed loft, you need to stoop low in order to use the rooms. Quirky to stay in but not overly practical if you are to live here for a longer period. You would need to be under five feet tall to appreciate the living space. 

Within the living are is a winding narrow staircase that leads up to the kitchen and dining room. If you have ever seen ‘Fixer Upper’ with Chip and Joanna, you will really appreciate the decor. A mixture of farm house and french chic along with ornate Italian touches. It also has views across the rooftops of the town that are simply beautiful.

All in all a great place to rest your head each night and with breakfast thrown in each morning, it makes travelling that much more enjoyable.

While we are here we walk around the CBD and become accustomed to the layout of the city centre. There is the typical mixture of piazzas and narrow alleys that lead you to small open spaces housing cafes, bars and restaurants. 

We dine out at two exceptional restaurants, Il Danilo where the wait staff picks up quickly that I am not the boss when in the company of two Smith Sisters, and Fantino where the food is divine but must be followed up with a locally produced green walnut liqueur and then a Limoncello as these are signature finishes to their meals. Wow, talk about walking away full of great Italian fare as well as being slightly tipsy!