Parma

<< Emilia-Romagna

Parma is the second largest city in Emilia-Romagna, after Bologna, and a major cultural hub, famous for its rich history. The city was probably founded by the Etruscans before becoming a Roman colony. After a period of decline in the Early Middle Ages, Parma rose to prominence as a free comune and an important stop along the Via Francigena, which connected Rome to Northern Europe. Parma lived a long period of political turmoil during the struggle between Guelphs and Ghibellines and the Italian Wars, finally becoming the capital of the independent Duchy of Parma and Piacenza in 1545. This was the golden age of Parma, which became rich and powerful as an important cultural center, attracting artists and scholars. The city was briefly under French rule and then Austrian influence in the 19th century, before finally joining Italy during the unification of the country. Today Parma is an important industrial center, known for its artistic and musical heritage and for its world-famous gastronomic products.

✪ Parma Cathedral

The Parma Cathedral (Duomo di Parma) is one of the greatest works of Romanesque architecture in Italy. The church was consecrated in 1106 and was built on the site of a previous religious building. Its facade features some loggias, but the true masterpiece is the richly decorated interior. Impressive 16th-century frescoes cover all the walls inside the church, including the dome, which is adorned by an incredibly elaborate painting by Correggio. The cathedral also hosts many other artworks and it is flanked by a 13th-century bell tower.

✪ Parma Baptistery

The Parma Baptistery (Battistero di Parma) is a medieval baptistery located near the Parma Cathedral. The building was erected in the 13th century and features a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles. The baptistery has an octagonal plan and it is adorned with various reliefs and decorations. The interior, including the impressive dome, is richly painted with frescoes from the 13th and 14th century that are among the most notable of that time.

✪ Abbey of San Giovanni Evangelista

The Abbey of San Giovanni Evangelista (Abbazia di San Giovanni Evangelista) is a religious complex located just behind the Parma Cathedral. Originally erected in the 10th century, the church was rebuilt during the Renaissance and it features a marble facade with Baroque decorations. The interior hosts several artworks and it is mostly known for its rich series of 16th-century frescoes. Among these is the Vision of St. John on Patmos (Visione di san Giovanni a Patmos), that occupies the interior of the dome. Adjacent to the church is a large monastery, which includes some decorated cloisters and houses a historic library and an ancient pharmacy known as Antica Spezieria di San Giovanni.

✪ Palazzo della Pilotta

Palazzo della Pilotta is a museum complex housed in a series of Renaissance buildings facing Piazza della Pace in Parma. The largest museum hosted here is the Galleria Nazionale di Parma, a rich art collection housing works dating from the Late Middle Ages until today. This art gallery includes masterpieces by Leonardo Da Vinci, Correggio, Parmigianino, Tiepolo, Canova, and more. The central area of Palazzo della Pilotta is occupied by Teatro Farnese, a Renaissance theater adorned with elaborate decorations. The palace also houses the National Archaeological Museum of Parma (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Parma), which includes a large exhibition of findings from the prehistory and the Roman age, also hosting a collection of Ancient Egyptian and Greek objects. Another area of this palace is occupied by the Palatina Library (Biblioteca Palatina), a historic library housing hundreds of thousands of ancient books, including a rich musical section. The Museo Bodoniano, a museum focused on the history of printing is connected to the Palatina Library.

✪ Basilica of Santa Maria della Steccata

The Basilica of Santa Maria della Steccata is a 16th-century sanctuary in Parma. The layout of the church is a Greek cross with a large dome, adorned with various decorations. The interior hosts a spectacular series of frescoes painted by Parmigianino and other Renaissance and Mannerist artists active in Parma. The crypt hosts the monumental burials of several members of the Farnese and Bourbon-Parma families, which once ruled over the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza.

Monastery of San Paolo

The Monastery of San Paolo is a former monastery in the center of Parma, erected in the Middle Ages. It lived its golden age during the Renaissance as a major cultural and religious center, but later its importance declined and it was suppressed in 1810. The complex has now been turned into a museum and it houses the Camera della Badessa (or Camera di San Paolo), a room adorned with a series of impressive 16th-century frescoes by Correggio. One wing of the monastery hosts the Pinacoteca Stuard, an art gallery hosting numerous paintings spanning from the Late Middle Ages until today, along with various archaeological findings.

Diocesan Museum of Parma

The 11th-century Romanesque Palazzo Vescovile is located in front of the Parma Cathedral and it houses the Diocesan Museum of Parma (Museo Diocesano di Parma). This museum hosts a rich exhibition of religious art spanning several centuries, along with numerous archaeological findings and mosaics from the Roman and Paleochristian era.

Piazza della Pace

Piazza della Pace is a square in Parma located in front of Palazzo della Pilotta and featuring various attractions. A medieval church once occupied the area, but it was demolished in 1813. Now a fountain demarcates the area where this church once stood. During the 1910s, a large Monument to Giuseppe Verdi was erected in Parma, but it was heavily damaged during World War II. The only surviving section of the monument was then moved to its current position in Piazza della Pace. Another monument, dedicated to the partesans who fought against the fascists in World War II is also located here.

Museo Glauco Lombardi

Museo Glauco Lombardi is a museum located on Piazza della Pace hosting a collection of artworks and objects mostly from the 19th century. In addition to numerous paintings, the museum displays various historic dresses and pieces of furniture and jewelry.

Teatro Regio

Teatro Regio is the main opera house of Parma and one of the most important theaters in Italy. Inaugurated in 1829, it soon became popular for staging many operas by Giuseppe Verdi, who was born near Parma. The theater features elaborate decorations in its auditorium and has hosted several famous conductors, musicians, and singers.

Piazza Garibaldi

Piazza Garibaldi is one of the main squares of Parma, surrounded by historic buildings. The northern side of this square is dominated by the large Palazzo del Governatore. This is a palace of medieval origins, which was reworked several times and now features Baroque and Neoclassical decorations, while its facade is adorned by an interesting collection of sundials. The 17th-century town hall of Parma, or Palazzo del Comune, is located to the southeast of the square, adjacent to the 13th-century Palazzo del Podestà. The Neoclassical Church of San Pietro, erected in the 18th century, stands on the western side of Piazza Garibaldi.

Parco Ducale

Parco Ducale is a large park in Parma, which was once the garden of the now-demolished Ducal Palace of the city. The park was built in the 16th century and features various attractions including some statues, a large fountain, a temple, and a theater. On the northern side of the park is the historic Palazzo del Giardino, which houses some frescoed halls and now serves as a police headquarters.

Birthplace of Arturo Toscanini

The house where conductor Arturo Toscanini was born in 1867 is located near Parco Ducale, and is now a museum. The rich exhibition hosted here houses several objects showcasing the life and work of the great conductor.

Church of San Vitale

The Church of San Vitale is a 17th-century Baroque church in the center of Parma. It is best known for its internal decorations, which include various artworks and the really elaborate sculptural group of the Monumento Beccaria.

Casa del Suono

Casa del Suono is a music museum hosted in a former church. The exhibition focuses on the history of instruments for reproducing and transmitting sounds, including ancient phonographs and early radios, but also modern tape recorders and CDs.

Parma Citadel

The Citadel is a 16th-century fortification located south of the city center of Parma. It features a monumental entrance and it still preserves part of its ancient bastions. After losing its strategic importance, it was used as military barracks, while now it serves as a public park.

Museum of Chinese Art and Ethnography

The Museum of Chinese Art and Ethnography (Museo d’Arte Cinese ed Etnografico) is a rich exhibition mostly focused on Chinese art, but also featuring a series of objects and artworks from Africa and South America.

Church of Santa Maria del Quartiere

The Church of Santa Maria del Quartiere is a 17th-century church in Parma featuring Baroque and Mannerist decorations. The church has a central plan and its interior is adorned with frescoes, including the very elaborate one occupying the dome.