Important town in the province of Modena, World famous for its production of ceramic articles and the circuit of the Ferrari Family, Fiorano Modenese is located in an area inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by archeological finds dating to the Neolithic Ages. The origins of the town's name, is of clear Roman influence. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Fiorano was prey of the attacks of the Lombards and later it submitted the domain of the Carolingian Empire, that imposed a feudal system. Just after year 1000 the inhabitants started the construction of the castle, within whose walls were built the first church with an adjoining rectory, while during the XIV century the first houses outside the fortified walls were built. In the following centuries, Fiorano submitted the domain of several Lords such as: the Pio, the d'Este and in the first half of the XVII century, the Coccapani.
Sites of Interest:
- the Castle of Spezzano, a medieval fortress whose existence was proved for the first time in an official document of 1228, although it is widely believed that there was already a construction in the XI century. It was part of a complex defensive system and submitted several transformations over the centuries, from an important defensive role to mere mansion under the rule of the Coccapani. Currently it features a very simple structure, characterized by an entrance on the North side and a tower with a drawbridge of the XIV century. Today it houses the Museum of Ceramics;
- the Shrine of Our Lady of the Castle, situated on a hill where once stood the castle of Fiorano, which was destroyed during a fire. The only painting that survived this disaster was an image of the Madonna painted on the entrance portal of manor. In 1634, the construction of a Sanctuary was started with the intention to preserve the miraculous effigy;
- the XVIII century Church of San Giovanni, with valuable paintings by Carlo Rizzi and Francesco Vellani. Inside the church is also situated the Chapel of the Menotti family, where lie the remains of the famous Italian patriot Ciro Menotti;
- the Oratory of San Rocco, rebuilt in the early XX century not far from the original site;
- the Church of San Lorenzo, mentioned for the first time in 1078, which was rebuilt in 1444 and enlarged in 1780;
- the magnificent noble residences, built between the XVII and XVIII centuries and belonged to the wealthy families of Modena (Villa Cuoghi, Villa Guastalla Villa Campori, Villa Messori, Villa Coccapani and Villa Pace);
- the circuit of Fiorano, built in 1972 by Ing. Enzo Ferrari in the immediate vicinity of the Ferrari sport car factory in Maranello, for the testing of the Ferrari racing cars;
- the Nature Reserve of Salse di Nirano, which consists of 300 acres of clay soil, with numerous geysers, from which erupt a mixture of salty mud and boiling oil.