Saint Geminianus Fair and Saint Geminianus Race
The feast of Modena's patron saint: fair in the historic centre, religious tradition, and the historic Race
About Saint Geminianus
The feast of Modena's patron saint
January 31st is the most significant date of the Modenese winter: it is the day of Saint Geminianus, bishop and patron saint of the city, celebrated with an event that has for centuries intertwined religious devotion, a grand popular fair, and a race that has now become legendary. For an entire day, the historic centre of Modena, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, transforms into an open-air stage that involves the entire citizenry and thousands of visitors from the province and beyond.
The grand fair in the historic centre
The heart of the feast is the historic Saint Geminianus Fair, which from 8 am to 8 pm invades the streets and squares of the centre with over 500 stalls. The main areas are Piazza Grande and the Via Emilia, but the stalls also extend along Via Farini, Piazza Roma, Piazza XX Settembre, Piazzale degli Erri, Corso Canalchiaro, and Corso Canalgrande. You can find everything: clothing, crafts, typical products, sweets, and gastronomic specialities. Piazza XX Settembre is dedicated to tastings of local products, while Piazza Roma hosts initiatives designed for children; street artists perform in Piazza Matteotti and Piazza Mazzini.
Religious tradition
The day follows an ancient ceremonial. Masses are held in the Cathedral from morning onwards, culminating in the 11 am Pontifical Mass, preceded by a procession that starts from the Town Hall and reaches the Cathedral along Via Emilia. City authorities present votive candles and oil for the lamp that burns perpetually before the Saint's tomb. For the occasion, the tomb of Saint Geminianus, in the UNESCO World Heritage Cathedral crypt, remains open to the devotion of the faithful for several days around the feast.
The Saint Geminianus Race
In the afternoon, the city changes pace with the Saint Geminianus Race, one of the most important Italian road races, organised by the historic club A.S. La Fratellanza 1874. An international race of 13.350 km that crosses the historic centre and city districts, accompanied by non-competitive events and a mini-race for families and children, for a total of several thousand participants who colour the streets of Modena.
Saint Geminianus — edition 2026
The Saint Geminianus Feast 2026 attracted thousands of people to Modena for a day of tradition, faith, and sport, concluding with the usual public success in Piazza Grande and along Via Emilia.
The grand fair animated the historic centre from 8 am to 8 pm, with over 440 stalls assigned among Piazza Grande, Via Emilia, Via Farini, Piazza Roma, and Piazza XX Settembre. On the religious front, the procession departed at 10:40 am from the Town Hall towards the Cathedral, where at 11 am the Pontifical Mass was held by Archbishop Castellucci, with the presence of delegations from Pontremoli and San Gimignano and the exposition of the Saint's arm.
Programme Saint Geminianus 2026
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Religious celebrations in the Cathedral
- 8:00 am — First Mass (Msgr. Enrico Solmi)
- 9:00 am — Mass (Msgr. Lino Pizzi)
- 10:40 am — Civic procession from the Town Hall to the Cathedral (Piazzetta delle Ova, Via Emilia, Corso Duomo)
- 11:00 am — Pontifical Mass presided over by Archbishop Erio Castellucci, with the exposition of Saint Geminianus's arm
- 5:15 pm — Vespers (Archbishop Castellucci)
- 6:00 pm — Mass (Msgr. Giacomo Morandi)
The tomb of Saint Geminianus in the Cathedral crypt remained open for devotion until February 7th.
Fair
- 8:00 am–8:00 pm — Over 440 stalls in Piazza Grande, Via Emilia, Via Farini, Piazza Roma, and Piazza XX Settembre
- Piazza Roma — children's activities (with Modenamoremio) and gluten-free area (AIC Emilia Romagna)
- Piazza XX Settembre — tastings of local products
Saint Geminianus Race (52nd edition)
- 2:30 pm — Start from Via Bono da Nonantola / Viale Berengario
- International competitive race of 13.350 km towards Cognento and back, finishing at Novi Sad Park
- Non-competitive events (Corrisangeminiano) and MiniRace for families and children
Open museums and monuments
- Ghirlandina Tower 9:30 am–6:30 pm; Cathedral Museums 10:00 am–4:00 pm; Civic Museum 10:00 am–7:00 pm; Giorgio de Chirico exhibition 10:00 am–7:00 pm; guided tours of the Ducal Palace and the Municipal Acetaia
Highlights Saint Geminianus 2026
- Pontifical Mass in the Cathedral with Archbishop Erio Castellucci and delegations from Pontremoli and San Gimignano
- 52nd Saint Geminianus Race: sold out with over 5,000 participants, won by Pietro Riva and Rebecca Lonedo
- Opening of the Saint's tomb in the Cathedral crypt
- Fair with over 440 stalls throughout the historic centre
Prices Saint Geminianus 2026
Practical information — Saint Geminianus
When
Every year on January 31st, Saint Geminianus's Day. The fair is open from 8 am to 8 pm.
Where
Historic centre of Modena: Piazza Grande, Via Emilia, and surrounding streets. The Cathedral and the crypt with the Saint's tomb are located in Piazza Grande.
Traffic
During the day, traffic is suspended in the historic centre (excluding emergency vehicles), and public transport routes are subject to changes (information at www.setaweb.it).
Admission
Access to the fair and celebrations is free. Registration is required for the Race, organised by the event's club.
Contacts
SUAP Comune di Modena, tel. +39 059 2032555, [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Saint Geminianus
Centro storico di Modena
Piazza Grande, 41121 Modena