Villa Modoni Gennari - A journey among villas and castles

A visit to Villa Modoni Gennari takes visitors on a journey of discovery through one of the most fascinating historic villas in the Medicina area, designed by the architect Angelo Venturoli in the late 18th century for Pietro Mòdoni.

The tour offers a close-up view of the neoclassical main building, with its characteristic pronaos featuring four Doric columns, the pediment bearing the Modoni family coat of arms, and the monumental garden well attributed to Venturoli.

Through cadastral maps, original drawings, elevations and historical documents, visitors can trace the villa’s evolution: from the original late 18th-century design, featuring the central block and the two Palladian-inspired side barns, to the alterations introduced by the successive owners—the Modoni, Simoni and Gennari families—and on to the 20th-century transformations.

Some of the villa’s artistic and decorative features will also be showcased, including sculptures, bas-reliefs and evidence of the original layout of the outdoor spaces, with particular attention paid to the monumental staircase envisaged in the original design and now lost.

Finally, a comparison of maps, photographs and images from different eras will help visitors understand how the villa has changed over time, from its division following the Second World War right through to the most recent interventions and restoration work.

This tour is designed to reveal not only a historic building, but also the stories of the people, families and transformations that have shaped the villa over the course of more than two centuries.

At the end of the tour, you will also have the opportunity to continue exploring Medicina with a stroll amongst the stalls of the antiques market, browsing through objects, furniture, collectables and artefacts from the past.

The guided tour is part of the ‘A journey among Villas and Castles’ series.

Full price: € 15

Reduced price(Card Cultura holders and FAI members): € 12

Reduced price (6–12 years): € 6

Free: 0–5 years

A 50% discount is available for holders of a disability card and one accompanying person.

Bookings for tickets reserved for people with disabilities must be made by emailing extrabo@bolognawelcome.it or by visiting the eXtraBO information point in Piazza del Nettuno.

Services included:

• Guided tour

Meeting point:

Via Villa Gennari 27, 40059 Medicina

You can park at the Casa della Salute car park, after which you can walk along Via Villa Gennari.

Meet in front of the gate/courtyard of the house

Before booking, please bear in mind that:

• Pets are allowed but should preferably be kept outside the villa
• You can reach the destination by taking bus 99C from Bologna Autostazione to Medicina Fronte Stazione, followed by an 11-minute walk
• Photography inside the villa is not permitted. Photography of the exterior of the villa is allowed

Refund and changes:

Cancellation with a refund or changes to the booking are possible up to 48 hours before the start of the activity.

The sale of tourist services is managed by Bologna Welcome Travel Agency