An Unexpected Day Trip to Carpi, Italy

Arriving to Carpi

Arriving to Carpi is really easy by train. The train station is just a 5 minute walk from the city center, making it really easy to get around with public transportation.

We also realized that Carpi had more cyclists than any other city or town we've been to in Italy. They were honestly everywhere (just look closely at all of my pictures for proof!). Although we didn't rent bikes, it makes it obvious that it's easy to explore the area on two wheels.

The easiest destinations to arrive to Carpi are from:

• Modena: 15 minute direct train
• Mantova: 1 hour direct train

Coming from anywhere else you'll likely need to change trains in one of those cities.

You can of course drive yourself to Carpi. Just know that given the fact that it's in the Motor Valley the toll roads are more expensive than in other regions.

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Best Time to Visit Carpi

Just like the rest of Emilia Romagna, Carpi faces 4 seasons: the most extreme being a hot summer.

We visited Carpi in early June and could already see all the people avoiding walking through the middle of the massive piazza and instead sticking to the shade in the portici (us included!).

Given the extreme weather but the fact that Carpi is best seen on foot, I'd recommend visiting in spring or fall.

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Eating in Carpi

Again, like the rest of this region, Carpi is home to some pretty epic food. Here you can expect to find your fill of delicious tortellini, tortelloni, passatelli, and all the famous pasta dishes the region is most well-known for.

Dig into the local dishes in Modena that you can also try in Carpi.

One of the only foods that bears Carpi's name is the "mostarda fina di Carpi." This is a fruit mustard often used as a dipping sauce for meats. The original recipe was said to appear back in the 1500s but was so well guarded by the family that created it that it's hard to say if what you can try today is anything like the original. For a true taste of Carpi, you'll have to hunt this unique condiment down.

Although they didn't offer us any mustard, we stumbled upon Allosteria for a really delicious lunch.

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Best Things to Do in Carpi

Carpi is a really small town, so don't be disappointed to learn there aren't many true activities or things to do. The beauty of a Carpi day trip is to simply wander around a town not visited by many.

Trust me, the massive Piazza dei Martiri is worth the trip on its own.

But, if you want a little more guidance, I suggest:

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1. Slowly Walk Around the Old Town

If you arrive by train, you might feel a little underwhelmed by your immediate surroundings. I know we sure did.

Since we weren't quite sure what to expect from Carpi (we're notorious under planners), we thought we might have wound up in a small residential town. That is until we arrived at the main square, Piazza dei Martiri.

We both let out a sigh of relief the moment we laid eyes on it and knew we'd enjoy the afternoon walking around.

From there, I recommend walking under the portico that runs parallel to the old castle, window shopping along the way. Even if the weather is hot, I highly recommend you walk through the center of the square, at least for a few minutes, to really be able to take it all in.

Although you might be tempted to stop your walk at the end of the plaza, continue on from that street. There you'll find more restaurants, shops, and locals out and about. There's a smaller Piazza Garibaldi along that road that's worth seeing.

From this main street, Corso Alberto Pio, you can turn right or left at the alleyways and get a little lost in the remaining old town and into the tree-lined residential area.

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2. Visit the Museums at Palazzo dei Pio

You can't go to Carpi and overlook the Palazzo dei Pio, often called il castello (the castle). Since it takes up much of the main plaza, it's really impossible to overlook. The Pio Family was an Italian royal family that maintained control of Carpi for almost 200 years.

The medieval castle was built between the 14th-16th centuries and holds a clear cut visual of knights and royalty. It doesn't take too much imagination to go back in time just looking at it.

Although you can simply enjoy the beautiful facades, you can also go inside and see the:

• City library
• City archives
• 3 different museums (Palace Museum, City Museum, Deportation Museum)

Most unique is certainly the last one, the Museo Monumento al Deportato politico e razziale (Deportation Museum). And know that I use the word "unique" with a very dark undertone.

Nearby Carpi, during WW2, the Fossoli concentration camp was used first to house prisoners of war and Italian Jews. Later, under control of the Germans, it became a transit camp to other concentration camps in Europe.

You can enter the Palazzo dei Pio and all of the museums with just one ticket that you can buy at the entrance.

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3. Take a Peak Inside the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta

The Carpi Cathedral was built around the same time as the castle, starting construction in 1514. It's impressive from the outside and worth a peek inside when the doors are open to the public.

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Extending Your Day Trip into a Weekend One

Although Carpi is a small town, it's undeniably cute. For those wanting to get off the beaten path and relax in a quiet yet picturesque spot, this is a good choice.

When stopping by for a gelato, the man working the counter was intrigued by our Italian accents. After telling him where we're from, he said in all his years working he'd never met an American or a Colombian visiting Carpi. Europeans, sure, but from other places? Not once.

It's really up to you if that's a pro or con but if you're interested in seeing another side of Italy many skip, you could base yourself in Carpi and make your day trip to Modena instead.

Where to Stay in Carpi

If you've decided an overnight stay to relax in calm Carpi is a good idea, I suggest:

• Budget Stay: Luna Sul Tetto: The small but cozy rooms here offer free breakfast and are perfectly located between the train station and old town.
• Mid-Tier Stay: B&B Villa delle Palme: For those that like the idea of seeing Carpi by bicycle, why not stay outside of the city center and enjoy the surrounding nature?
• Luxury Stay: Stile e Comfort in Città: Traveling with 3-people? This apartment rental has more space but still walking distance to the center.

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Traveling With Your Dog?

Italy is incredibly pet-friendly and a fantastic place for your pup to travel but do note that certain cities have certain rules. Bandido joined in on this side mission but Monti, the cat, chose to relax in the apartment and avoid the heat.

We were told by the same gelato worker that if Bandido pees or poops in the city center and we don't clean it up, we can face a fine. While I hope we all agree that cleaning up their poo is the norm, know that here you're also expected to spray off their pee with water before walking away.

We did see signs later on in the city that confirmed that small (but smart) rule. So, be sure to carry around a water bottle!

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Enjoy Your Day Trip to Carpi

To us, Carpi was a real gem. We always love the chance to visit somewhere we previously haven't heard of, especially when the place is as beautiful (and delicious) as this one. Although I didn't feel the need to stay longer than a few hours, I'm so glad we decided to spend one of our days in Carpi.