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Parma
Parma, city of traditional aristocratic cultures, rich with preciouys works of art and a capital city in its past, famous for its most illustrious children and for artists who work within her-from Benedetto Antelami to Salimbene, from Correggio to Parmigianino, from Bodoni to Verdi and . Toscanini , from Stendhal to Proust- is totally unlike any of the many beautiful cities that attract visitors to Italy.
Main monuments
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Cathedral |
It is one of the most important Romanesque cathedrals in Europe.
The construction was begun in 1059 by bishop Cadalo, later antipope with the name of Honorius II, and was consecrated by Paschal II in 1116. A basilica existed probably in the 6th century, but was later abandoned; another church had been consecrated in the 9th century in the rear part of the preceding one, nuder count-bishop Guibodo. The new church was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1117 and had to be restored. Of the original building, remains can be seen in the presbytery, the transept, the choir and the apses, and in some sculpture fragments. The wide façade was completed in 1178: it has three loggia floors and three portals, whose doors were sculpted by Luchino Bianchino in 1494. Between the central and the right doors is the tomb of the mathematician Biagio Pelacani, who died in 1416.
The Gothic belfry was added later, in 1284-1294: a twin construction on the left side had been conceived, but it was never begun.
The interior has a Latin cross plant, with a nave and two aisles divided by pliasters. The presbytery and the transept are elevated, to allow space for the underlying crypt. The latter houses fragments of ancient mosaics which show the presence here of a cult edifice at least in the 3rd or 4th century AD. The side chapels were built to house the sepulchers of the noble families of Parma: two of them, the Valeri Chapel and the Commune Chapel, have maintained the original decoration from the 14th century.
Particularly noteworthy are the capitals, also in the exterior: many of them are characterized by rich decorations with leaves, mythological figures, scenes of war, as well as Biblical and Gospel scenes. The paintings, as revealed by a capital stripped of the 16th century gold painting, were originally polychrome.
Also in the interior, on the cupola ceiling, is the famous Assumption of the Virgin fresco by Correggio (1526-1530. In the right transept is the Deposition by Benedetto Antelami (1178). |
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Baptistry |
The Baptistry (begun in 1196 by Antelami), one of the most important Medieval monuments in Europe. |
Palazzo della Pilotta |
The Palazzo della Pilotta is probably the most important and impressive secular buidling. Built in 1583 in the Renaissance style, it currently houses the Academy of Fine Arts, whose collection includes works from the so-called School of Parma. The Palazzo is also home to the the Palatine Library, the National Gallery, the Archaeological Museum, the Bodoni Museum and the Farnese Theatre. The later was built entirely in wood over the years 1618 and 1619. |
Church of Saint John the Evangelist |
The church of Saint John the Evangelist was built between 1498 and 1510 behind the Cathedral's apse. It has Baroque facade and belfry, with a Latin cross plant and three naves. The dome was frescoed by Correggio in 1520-1522 with the famous Vision of St. John the Evangelist, a masterwork of illustionistic art of the Late Italian Renaissance. Chapels have frescoes by Parmigianino. Also the cloisters and the ancient Benedictine grocery are noteworthy. The library has books from the 15th and 16th centuries. |
Madonna della steccata |
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Monuments