Thousands of mourners filed past the open coffin of Luciano Pavarotti in the cathedral of his Italian hometown today.
The doors of Modena's ancient cathedral opened at dawn to let fans get a last look at Pavarotti before his funeral tomorrow.
The rotund, bearded opera star, who died yesterday at the age of 71, was dressed in a black tuxedo, hands folded on his stomach and holding a white handkerchief - a favourite prop during his recitals - and a rosary.
Mourner Luigi Febbrano,
Wreaths of flowers stood at the head of the coffin, and mourners passed slowly by the coffin, some stopping to kneel in the pews and pray, others signing memorial books outside.
"He brought to the world everything that is good about this town: simplicity, honesty and happiness," said Luigi Febbrano, waiting outside the 12th-century church.
Pavarotti, one of the finest tenors of his generation who did more than any other singer to bring opera to the masses, died after a long fight with pancreatic cancer.
Condolences flooded in from around the world, with leaders such as US President George W. Bush and Russia's Vladimir Putin joining opera singers Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras in praising the voice and the man.
Pavarotti, who was born in Modena into a humble family, spent his final days in his villa near the town, where he also owned a restaurant and gave lessons at the local music school even in the final months of his illness.
Pavarotti's family wanted the funeral to be private, but the ceremony is likely to be high profile as celebrity friends and fans are due to flock in from around the world.
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will sing in the church service tomorrow afternoon, and other celebrities have offered to give the maestro a musical send-off.