Modena, Italy

Though only thirty minutes northwest by train, MODENA has a quite distinct identity from Bologna. It proclaims itself the "spiritual capital" of Emilia and has a number of claims to fame: great car names such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati are tied to the town (celebrated in Modena Terra di Motori in April/May, when the piazzas are filled with classic models); the late Pavarotti was a native of Modena, his name commemorated in the recently re-branded Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti; the area's balsamic vinegar has become a cult product in kitchens around the world, duly celebrated in the Balsamica festival in May; and the cathedral is considered one of the finest Romanesque buildings in Italy.