Things to Do and See in Parma

The heart of Parma is Piazza del Duomo, home to the city’s main monuments, including the Cathedral of Parma and the Baptistery, both outstanding examples of Romanesque architecture. The first, the Cathedral of Parma dedicated to the Assumption, is a 13th-century structure characterized by an octagonal dome adorned with precious paintings and frescoes, such as those by Correggio on the dome, including The Assumption of Mary into Heaven, one of the greatest paintings of the Italian Renaissance, and others attributed to Parmigianino and Antelami. The Baptistery is an octagonal building constructed from blocks of pink marble which, together with the 11th-century Bishop’s Palace, creates a charming medieval setting. As for religious buildings worth visiting, these include the Church of St. John the Evangelist, which houses a series of famous frescoes by Correggio, including *The Vision of St. John on Patmos*; the Basilica of the Madonna della Steccata, designed by the Zaccagni family and built between 1521 and 1539; the Benedictine Monastery of San Paolo; and the Church of San Vitale. Among the secular buildings, we highlight the Palazzo della Pilotta, home to the Library and the Farnese Theater (1617), formerly the court theater of the Dukes of Parma and Piacenza, where works by artists such as Beato Angelico, Cima da Conegliano, Leonardo da Vinci, Correggio, Parmigianino, Matteo Anselmi, Guercino, and many others. Also worth noting are the Teatro Regio, a temple of music and one of Italy’s most illustrious theaters, and the Palazzo Ducale, surrounded by extensive green space. Elsewhere in the province, don’t miss Fontevivo with its imposing 12th-century Cistercian Abbey, Fontanellato, with the Rocca Sanvitale and a cycle of frescoes by Parmigianino; Fidenza, with the magnificent Cathedral of San Donnino; and Langhirano with the Torrechiara Castle, built in the 15th century. Furthermore, there are numerous noteworthy examples of civil architecture, including the Fortress of Bardi, Compiano Castle with its adjoining village, Felino Castle, and the Royal Palace of Colorno, the residence of the Farnese, the Bourbons, and Marie Louise of Austria.