Thousands of mourners thronged into Italian central city Modena's cathedral on Friday to say their farewells to Italy's great tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

The imposing, black-bearded figure was laid out in an open white casket in black coat and tails, holding his signature white handkerchief.

Local people who used to chat with the gregarious tenor joined with foreign fans who rushed to Italy as soon as they heard the news of his death from cancer early Thursday at the age of 71.

As they filed up to the coffin at an estimated rate of 3,000 per hour, they received a photograph of a smiling Pavarotti.

The crowd was so big that workers had to push back a cordon to keep it orderly -- while a breach was opened for Italian President Giorgio Napolitano to walk through.

As he left the cathedral the president said, "Luciano Pavarotti honored Italy. Italy honors Luciano Pavarotti."

Mourners included the tenor's second wife, Nicoletta Mantovani, holding Alice in her arms, and his first wife Adua Veroni with two of their three daughters, who are all in their 40s.

Italian Premier Romano Prodi has put off a state visit to Slovenia to attend the funeral along with Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli.

Many of Pavarotti's celebrity friends are expected to be there including Bono, Elton John, Laura Pausini, Zucchero and motorcycling ace Valentino Rossi.

Italian opera-pop singer Andrea Bocelli will sing "Panis Angelicus" (bread of angels), one of Pavarotti's favourite hymns.

The tenor will be laid to rest at a local cemetery alongside his parents and Riccardo, Alice's stillborn brother.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2007)