What to see in Parma, one-day itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including the Duomo, Palazzo della Pilotta, Palazzo Ducale and Certosa di Paradigna.
Tourist information
Capital of the homonymous province, Parma is located in Emilia Romagna, between the Apennines and the Po Valley, in a land known for its cultural liveliness and for its gastronomic delicacies.
The city was the ancient capital of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza by Maria Luigia D’Austria, the province of the Lower Padana told by Giovannino Guareschi and the place where Giuseppe Verdi and Arturo Toscanini were born.
Visiting the historic center of this city is a very pleasant experience, the recommended itinerary is the one that starts the visit from Piazza Duomo, where the buildings of the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Bishop's Palace overlook.
Near the Cathedral is the monastic complex of San Giovanni Evangelista, which includes the Church, the Convent and the Ancient Benedictine Spezieria.
Continuing the journey you reach the Renaissance Church of the Madonna della Steccata, with a cycle of frescoes by Mazzola, and the Palazzo della Pilotta.
The Palazzo Ducale with the immense park that surrounds it and, a few km from the center, the Certosa di Paradigna are absolutely worth seeing.
As regards the gastronomic aspect, Parma excels with high quality food products, including Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto, it is the seat of the European Food Safety Authority.
What see
Parma Cathedral: the cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta is the main Catholic place of worship, located in Piazza Duomo, near the Baptistery and the Bishop's Palace.
Abbey of San Giovanni Evangelista: it is a complex of the order of San Benedetto located in the historic center of Parma, it includes church, monastery and spezieria.
Basilica of Santa Maria della Steccata: it is a sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna, dating back to the 16th century, is governed by the Constantinian order of San Giorgio.
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Pilotta Palace: is an architectural jewel located in the historic center, whose name derives from the game of pelota, which was practiced by the Spanish military in the Pelota courtyard, today the Guazzatoio courtyard.
It consists of several buildings connected to each other by internal courtyards, it includes the National Archaeological Museum, the Paolo Toschi Art Institute, the Palatine Library, the Bodonian Museum, the Farnese Theater and the National Gallery of Parma.
Ducal Palace: is a grandiose palace from 1561, designed by the architect Vignola at the behest of Ottavio Farnese.
What can be seen today is the result of successive rearrangements, which led to the dismantling of the large two-ramp staircase located on the sides of the central cave as an ornament to the entrance to the building.
Inside there are works of art by Cesare Baglioni on the ground floor, going up the eighteenth century staircase, you reach the bird room, where over 200 species of birds are reproduced in the stuccos and frescoes, to be admired also all the other rooms wonderfully frescoed.
Charterhouse of Paradigna: located in S. Martino de Bocci-Valserena, it is an ancient monastery currently deconsecrated belonging to the university.
The Certosa di Parma, built in the fourteenth century by artists of the Benedictine order, is a precious example of Cistercian architecture that sees the apses of square shape, interior with three naves with a predominance of the central one on the sides, square chapels included in the transept.
The monumental complex has been modified several times during the various periods, the current facade and some windows are from the 1700s, on the right side you can see fifteenth-century ruins.
