The canonical version and where to order it.
Zampone Modena IGP is a spiced mix of pork, fat and rind stuffed into the skin of a pig's foreleg, simmered for hours and served in thick slices with lentils or mashed potatoes.
Modenese tradition dates the zampone to the 1511 siege of Mirandola by the troops of Pope Julius II, when the besieged townspeople stuffed their last pork into the skin of pigs' trotters to keep it. The 18th century saw Modena and Ferrara argue over the zampone and the cotechino. Zampone Modena is now an IGP, eaten at Christmas and at the New Year dinner with lentils, and since 1991 Castelnuovo Rangone has cooked a giant one for the crowd each December.
1 editor pick for Zampone in Modena, ranked by editorial score. All Modena signature dishes · Zampone across every city.
Da Enzo in Modena's centro storico is a warm family trattoria near the Synagogue, serving gnocco fritto, tigelle and Emilian classics nightly.
OrderThe gnocco fritto with cured meats and the zampone with mashed potato.
TipSaturday dinner runs until midnight, later than the rest of the week; the kitchen closes on Mondays.
Zampone makes more sense with someone from Modena explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
9 hours
See how local Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic, and wine are produced on this guided tour with hotel transfer from Bologna or Modena. Visit the Ferrari Museum and have lu...
8h 30m
Dive into production of Parmigiano Reggiano, learn about Lambrusco wine, explore Ferrari Museum, visit a vinegar factory, and have lunch at a Modena farmhouse on a day...
7 - 9.5 hours
Experience a day trip with transfer to witness the production of Parmigiano cheese, explore the Ferrari and Lamborghini Museum, visit a vinegar factory, and a delightf...
