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Ghirlandina Tower

Modena's 86-meter bell tower, keeper of a stolen-bucket legend.

  • Modena
  • Tower
Plan your visit
Where
Modena
Best for
Modena's emblem
Allow
45 minutes
Best time
Morning slots for a cooler climb
Tickets
From €6
Checked September 2026

Modena's bell tower rises 86 meters beside the cathedral, a Romanesque base of the twelfth century topped by a Gothic octagonal spire and a golden ball added in 1319. It leans very slightly, and the citizens have always treated it as the city's emblem.

The tower is best known for a bucket: in 1325 Modenese soldiers carried a wooden bucket home from Bologna after the Battle of Zappolino, and Alessandro Tassoni turned the grudge into a mock epic, La secchia rapita. The climb ends in the Sala dei Torresani, where the tower's guards once lived; the Sala della Secchia rapita, part of the tower, takes its name from the trophy. With the cathedral and Piazza Grande it is a UNESCO site.

Four things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. The Sala della Secchia rapitaModena’s medieval commune

    A chamber with fifteenth-century frescoes that once served as the commune’s treasury and archive, named for the stolen bucket.Lower floors of the tower

  2. The Stanza dei TorresaniRomanesque builders

    Romanesque capitals and the guards’ former quarters high in the tower.Fifth floor

  3. The Gothic spireMedieval builders

    An octagonal spire with marble balustrades and garland-like finials, which gave the tower its name.Top of the tower

  4. The view over Piazza Grande

    The UNESCO square and cathedral seen from above.Summit

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
From €6
Booking
Book ahead
Time needed
45 minutes
Best time
Morning slots for a cooler climb; late afternoon light on Piazza Grande
Getting there
Piazza Grande, in the pedestrian heart of Modena, beside the cathedral. It is a walk across the historic center from the train station; the center is a limited-traffic zone, so park outside it.
Accessibility
Not accessible for wheelchair users or visitors with walking difficulty: the climb is about 200 steps with no lift.

Reduced €4 (Modena residents, ages 13 to 26, over-65s). Free for children up to 12 and for disabled visitors with a companion. Visits are by reservation and include the Sala dei Torresani, not the summit. Last updated September 2026. Prices change, so check the official site before you go.

Reserve your slot ahead, then pair the tower with the cathedral next door, which is free to enter, and the Musei del Duomo on the same square.

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Before you book

How long should you spend at the Ghirlandina Tower?

About 45 minutes for the climb and the rooms. Choose a morning slot for a cooler climb.

Do you need to book the Ghirlandina Tower?

Yes; visits are limited and usually by guided group. Reserve ahead, especially on weekends.

What is the story of the stolen bucket (Secchia rapita)?

In 1325 Modenese soldiers carried a wooden bucket home from Bologna after the Battle of Zappolino. Alessandro Tassoni turned the episode into a mock epic, La secchia rapita.

More to see nearby

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