The square of the Pomposa, or more simply ‘La Pomposa’ for the people of Modena, is one of the most picturesque views of the city.
Modest in size and with a characteristic cobblestone pavement (beware of high heels!), it is dominated by the presence of the Church of Santa Maria della Pomposa, whose presbytery, once inhabited by the Provost Ludovico Antonio Muratori, the father of Italian historiography, is now a museum (Aedes Muratoriana).
Pomposa and movida
Quiet and almost sleepy during the day, the ‘Pomposa’ is transformed at night.
With its numerous clubs, together with the adjacent Via del Taglio, it is one of the movida areas of Modena, the beating heart of the city’s nightlife, frequented especially by young people and students.
Fun fact
The innkeeper’s fountain
There is a small fountain in Pomposa, known as ‘il fonticolo dell’oste’ (the innkeeper’s fountain) because it was commissioned and placed by Telesforo Fini.
In 1912, Fini and his wife Giuditta opened a delicatessen in Corso Canalchiaro and then a restaurant, which was an immediate success.
The other restaurateurs in Modena, jealous of Fini’s reputation, began to rumour that he used to dilute the Lambrusco he served to his guests.
The innkeeper built a fountain at the Pomposa with a plaque on which the following Latin words were ironically written:
Telesphorus Fini mutinensis caupo valde primus quod nimia aqua vinum auxisset fonticulo hoc civitatem donavit
‘Gifted by Telesforo Fini, the first innkeeper of Modena, to his town for having added too much water to his wine‘