THE DISCOVERY OF PARMA, REFINED AND PROUD SMALL CAPITAL OF ARTS AND TASTE
Classic Tour in Parma between Middle Ages and Renaissance (from 3 hours to full day):
Pilotta Palace – Farnese Theatre – Cathedral Square – Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta – Baptistery – St. John the Evangelist – the Chamber of St. Paul – Garibaldi Square – Church of Santa Maria Assunta
We start our sightseeing from the courtyard of Palazzo della Pilotta that evokes the splendor of the Farnese domain, climbing up through the Baroque staircases to the majestic Teatro Farnese, the XVIIth century theater of Farnese Princeps, a masterpiece by court architect Giovanbattista Aleotti nicknamed “Argenta”. It is the largest wooden theater in the world and during the rule of Farnese Lordship, it was used both for theatrical performances and naval battles.
Then, we come from Piazza della Pace to Piazza Duomo, that is surrounded by majestic medieval buildings in Romanesque-Gothic style. The ancient Cathedral Church of Santa Maria Assunta welcomes us with its noble austere facade which contrasts with the magnificent colorful interior. Among the many masterworks, really very significant are: the medieval “Deposition from the Cross” by the great and mysterious master Benedetto Antelami (1178) and the Renaissance frescoes in the dome, illustrating the “Assumption of the Virgin“, an incredible masterpiece by Antonio Allegri, the sublime “Correggio” (1526-1530).
Next to the Cathedral Tower stands with its rose and white marbles, the
artistic symbol of the town: the Baptistery of Parma, another of the masterworks created by Benedetto Antelami, who took care both of the architectural project and sculptural decoration of external portals and furnishings inside, really lovely. Attached to Baptistry we also find the old Bishop’s Palace, which once was the residence for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese and his first-born son, Pierluigi, the First Duke of Parma and Piacenza Duchy from 1545.
After these beautiful emotions, we continue our path alongside the 
cathedral to admire the “monsters” of the medieval bestiary carved in the apses and we arrive to the charming Renaissance facade of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist, to see inside a wonderful cycle of frescoes by Correggio and his pupils, including the young Francesco Mazzola, better known as “Parmigianino”, the unfortunate antagonist of Correggio. Here the finest painting fresco is that of the dome with “the Vision of St. John”.
Originally seat of Roman Forum close to the ancient Via Emilia, Piazza Garibaldi is 
surrounded by old civic buildings, such as the yellow Governor’s Palace with its beautiful Clock Tower, and opposite side the crenellated Palazzo Podestà with the Municipal Palace, still home to the Town Hall.
