Before I get to Florence for my Rick Steve's Tuscany tour, I am flying into Bologna for a gothic/industrial concert in Modena. So I am looking for WEIRD and ODDBALL things to see and do in those cities (and Florence and the rest of the Tuscany tour as well).
I have already been to Atlas Obscura, which is generally not weird enough for me. :)
Posted by
Penzance
136 posts
Can you tell us how “WEIRD” you are? On a scale of Zeppo Marx to The Donald, for example, where would you place yourself?
Posted by
new york
1389 posts
Weird what?? Foods unusual to you??
Venues with “world” music? Ethnic markets?
What did you find in Atlas Obscura??? The medical museums looked interesting. Have to check Modena.
Do you like cars?
Posted by
Vignola, Modena, Italy
643 posts
Something like that: https://arte-4-you.com/2025/09/07/santa-caterina-da-bologna-la-storia-del-corpo-incorrotto/ ?
Or something like that: https://arte-4-you.com/2025/09/07/santa-caterina-da-bologna-la-storia-del-corpo-incorrotto/ ? (the skulls are exposed now at the Archeological museum in Bologna).
Or this museum: https://sma.unibo.it/it/il-sistema-museale/collezione-delle-cere-anatomiche-l-cattaneo ?
Posted by
new york
1389 posts
What towns does your tour visit??
Posted by
NYC
132 posts
Try a Greeter free walk in each city and ask each Greeter to show you offbeat stuff. Google. Greeter Bologna. Not sure Modena has such a program.
Posted by
new york
1389 posts
That's a good idea.....and ask a few locals but maybe you should clarify more what you mean....just saying weird is a little confusing. If it's weird to me it might be "normal" to you!!!
I bet it would be interesting to visit a mortadella maker. I got so interested that I just looked this up and it does seem possible to watch the process.....but is that "weird??"
When does this trip take place? How about watching a matanza (of pig) if it's in late fall??
Posted by
Boston
1929 posts
Obscura is in the distorted mind of the beholder and words will inevitably fail. The Ettore Guatelli museum is at least mind altering and, if you're not disciplined, life altering. My digital camera algorithm begged me to stop taking photos. Not far from Parma.
https://www.messynessychic.com/2013/10/18/the-museum-of-the-every-object-you-can-probably-think-of/