Modena in a wheelchair: parking, cathedral and toilets

For this day trip we had come up with a plan that brought together three experiences we were especially curious about: visiting an acetaia (a balsamic vinegar maker), tasting traditional Modena bollito (mixed boiled meats) and ending the day in Modena’s old town.

That was exactly why we had chosen Modena: a day devoted to its flavours and its beauty, mixing food traditions, culture and history.

Discovering Acetaia Malpighi

Our first stop was Acetaia Malpighi, where we had booked the 11 o’clock guided tour by writing to them directly by e-mail.

Accessibility · Acetaia

I had also chosen this acetaia with my accessibility in mind: the building has a lift and an accessible toilet.

During the tour I was able to do exactly the same things as my friends, without missing any part of the experience.

Among the barrels we also saw a truly special one: a historic wooden barrel with three layers. As the acetaia’s website explains, it was re-clad in 1500, in 1750 and finally in 1920, so that the balsamic could keep maturing slowly. A small testament to centuries of care and tradition.

A row of dark little barrels of decreasing size, with white labels, beneath a wall hung with old tools. — The acetaia’s sets of barrels.

A dark wooden barrel on display on a stand, with a white sign and a stone resting on top. — The historic three-layer barrel, re-clad in 1500, 1750 and 1920.

Barrels, time and patience

The tour took us into the production rooms, among the old sets of barrels, where we discovered how balsamic vinegar is born and matures, and got a closer look at the techniques used to make it.

It was fascinating to see the barrels up close and discover how much time, patience and care it takes to create such a special product.

The group sitting in a bright room of the acetaia, listening to the guide; in the foreground a counter with barrels and bottles. — Our group during the guided tour.

Anna in her wheelchair and two friends sitting in the acetaia room, behind a large wooden barrel covered with white cloths. — Together, discovering the balsamic tradition.

The tasting

The tour continued with a guided tasting of the Collection Malpighi products. We tried several types of vinegar and discovered their different characteristics.

We also tasted chocolates filled with Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP, a really unusual combination. There were twelve of us and, at the end of the tasting, they gave us a few: a small gift we really appreciated.

Before leaving we stopped to buy the products we had liked most, so we could take a little of that experience home with us.

Five little barrels marked «Acetaia di Malpighi» lined up on a wooden cabinet, with bottles of vinegar displayed above. — Malpighi products: different types of vinegar.

Lunch at Antica Trattoria La Busa

After the tour we moved on to Antica Trattoria La Busa, not far from the acetaia. It was exactly the restaurant we were looking for to complete our idea of the day: a typical trattoria where we could taste traditional Modena cooking and, above all, the famous bollito trolley.

We really liked the place: pretty, well kept and welcoming. Our group had a room all to ourselves, where we could have lunch comfortably together. The bollito was exactly what we had wanted to try on this day devoted to Modena’s traditions.

Selfie of the group of smiling friends around a long laid table, in a room with pictures on the walls. — Our lunch together, in the room reserved for our group.

Good to know before you go

Toilet: it was spacious enough to use with a wheelchair, but the WC was not adapted.

This is worth knowing before choosing this restaurant, especially if you need an adapted toilet.

Parking and the old town

After lunch we drove into Modena and left the car at Piazzale Tien An Men.

Accessibility · Parking

In our experience it was a convenient choice: an open-air, free car park outside the ZTL (the limited traffic zone), very large and with plenty of spaces, including bays reserved for disabled people.

From the car park we went straight on by wheelchair towards the old town. It isn’t exactly a short distance, but it was manageable for us: we avoided entering the ZTL and left the car in a big open area, without hunting for a space in the streets of the centre.

Piazza Grande

We arrived in Piazza Grande, the monumental heart of the city, where we began our walk among the main sights of the old town. The cathedral and the Ghirlandina tower form one of Modena’s most recognisable views: a square to enjoy slowly, stopping to look at the details of the buildings.

Inside the cathedral, with my friends

We also visited the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo and San Geminiano. The naves, the arches and the light inside gave us a quiet pause before we carried on with our walk.

Accessibility · Entrance

The entrance for wheelchair users is not the main one: it is on the side of the cathedral and has a ramp. So you need to use this side entrance.

Once inside, I was able to visit the cathedral together with my friends.

The nave of Modena cathedral with its pews, brick arches and a crucifix in the foreground; the golden apse at the far end. — Inside the cathedral, which we visited with our friends.

Coming out of the cathedral, we carried on into the heart of the monumental complex, passing under the arches that link the Ghirlandina to the cathedral. Looking up from here lets you appreciate even better how tall the tower is and how beautiful this corner of the city is.

The Ghirlandina tower seen from below, through a stone arch linking it to the cathedral. — The Ghirlandina seen from under the arches beside the cathedral.

Piazza Roma and the Palazzo Ducale

We then reached Piazza Roma, dominated by the imposing Palazzo Ducale (the Ducal Palace), now home to the Military Academy. Its façade is the backdrop to a wide square, perfect for a break and a photo all together.

The group of smiling friends in Piazza Roma, with the long façade of the Palazzo Ducale behind them. — A group photo in Piazza Roma, in front of the Palazzo Ducale.

It was a day built around what we wanted to discover: balsamic vinegar, traditional cooking and the history of Modena. Three different experiences that gave us a lovely day out, shared with our friends and without giving up any of the visits we had planned.

My “no surprises” summary

The things to remember, gathered here so they are easy to find.

Ratings and accessibility notes for the day in Modena
Item	Stars	Good to know
Parking	5 out of 5	Piazzale Tien An Men: on our visit, an open-air, free car park outside the ZTL, with bays for disabled people.
Centre and pedestrian route	4 out of 5	Fairly easy going; the distance from the car park to the centre isn’t exactly short.
Acetaia Malpighi	5 out of 5	Lift and accessible toilet. Guided tour booked by e-mail.
Accessibility of the tour	5 out of 5	I took part in the whole tour with my friends, without missing any part of the experience.
Modena cathedral	5 out of 5	Accessible side entrance with a ramp, not the main one.
Antica Trattoria La Busa	4 out of 5	Well kept and welcoming, with a room all to ourselves for our group.
Trattoria toilet	3 out of 5	Spacious enough for a wheelchair, but the WC is not adapted.

Accessible toilets we found

Acetaia Malpighi Accessible toilet, with a lift in the building.
Antica Trattoria La Busa Spacious toilet, but the WC is not adapted.

Overall experience

5 hearts out of 5

This story describes our experience in a wheelchair on Sunday 1 March 2026. Services, access and parking conditions can change: when planning your visit, check the latest information for each place.