The Palazzo della Pilotta is a palace and complex of structures that is located between the Piazzale della Pace and the Lungoparma in the historic centre of the lovely Italian city of Parma. Vast but incomplete, the palace was built for the Farnese family in the 16th and 17th centuries, at the order of Duke Ottavio Farnese and then under Duke Ranuccio I. Built around a preexisting Visconti stronghold and a church, it was designed as a headquarters for the court and state services – such as stables, store rooms, arms rooms, theatre, barracks and more – rather than as a residence.
While the building was never, in fact, completed, the current structure is sprawling and consists of a corridor that connected the preexisting keep to the incomplete Ducal Palace and three courts: the Cortile di San Pietro Martire (best known as Cortile della Pilotta), the Cortile del Guazzatoio (originally known as the Cortile della pelota) and the Cortile della Racchetta.
Largely rebuilt after it was bombed heavily in WWII, the monumental building is now home to three museums and a few other important institutions including the Galleria Nazionale, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, the Teatro Farnese, the Palatina Library, the Art Institute of the University of Parma and the Headquarters of the National Art and Cultural Heritage. As such, a visit to the Palace opens up opportunities to see lots of different fascinating cultural hubs in one spot. The Palatine Library was founded in 1761 by the Duke of Parma, Philip of Spain, and opened to the public in 1769 and features incredible frescoes and a rich collection. The National Archaeological Museum was also founded by Philip of Spain and houses the trove that was excavated at Veleia and is home to one of the most active Palaeontology research centres in the country. The National Gallery, founded by the Dukes of Parma, Philip and Ferdinand has works dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries including pieces by Correggio, Parmigianino, Tiepolo, Canaletto, Canova and Bellotto and a work, “Head of Girl” (known as “Scapigliata”) that has been attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
Just find a vacation rental in Emilia Romagna, plan a day trip to Parma and hit up the Palazzo della Pilotta as your one-stop spot for culture, history and art!
Largely rebuilt after it was bombed heavily in WWII, the monumental building is now home to three museums and a few other important institutions including the Galleria Nazionale, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, the Teatro Farnese, the Palatina Library, the Art Institute of the University of Parma and the Headquarters of the National Art and Cultural Heritage. As such, a visit to the Palace opens up opportunities to see lots of different fascinating cultural hubs in one spot. The Palatine Library was founded in 1761 by the Duke of Parma, Philip of Spain, and opened to the public in 1769 and features incredible frescoes and a rich collection. The National Archaeological Museum was also founded by Philip of Spain and houses the trove that was excavated at Veleia and is home to one of the most active Palaeontology research centres in the country. The National Gallery, founded by the Dukes of Parma, Philip and Ferdinand has works dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries including pieces by Correggio, Parmigianino, Tiepolo, Canaletto, Canova and Bellotto and a work, “Head of Girl” (known as “Scapigliata”) that has been attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
Just find a vacation rental in Emilia Romagna, plan a day trip to Parma and hit up the Palazzo della Pilotta as your one-stop spot for culture, history and art!
Photo credit: Palickap / CC BY-SA 4.0