San Pietro Abbey is one of Modena's old Benedictine landmarks, close enough to the historic centre to fold into a walk between the cathedral quarter and the eastern streets. The present church is largely a Renaissance rebuilding, but the monastic site reaches much deeper into the city's medieval past, and that layered history is the reason to seek it out.
The facade and interior are quieter than Modena's headline monuments, which is part of the appeal. Look for the sculptural details, the cloister, and the sense of a religious house still woven into daily city life rather than preserved as a frozen museum piece. The abbey museum, sacristy, and old chapter room are not always casually open, so check ahead if those are the draw.