Parma

An easy town to explore on foot and enjoy

Parma is a vey interesting town, with a number of sights that should not be missed.

Not many builds in a town overshadow the cathedral, but in Parma, the Battistero does just that! This octagonal bspistery made with pink-marble is noted as being one of the most important structures in Italy. Work started in 1196. The interior is particularly impressive. Thin marble columns, 13th-century frescoes with statuyes and relief work all thrown in. It is considered some of the best work of architect and sculptor Benedetto Antelami. There is a set of giures that represent the months, seasons and signs of the zodiac that standout. The baptistery was delayed when they ran out of pink Verona marbel!

The Duomo includes a number of masterpieces admist the baroque architectural style of the interior. Look up into the interior of the dome to see Antonio da Correggio's Azunzione della Vergine painted over every inch of the massive dome cavity. It was rebuilt after an earthquakes in the 12th Century.

Other churches in town include the S. Giiovannie Evangelist (1494-1510) with frescoes. And, the churchof Sta Maria della Steccata (1521-39) which is the burial place of the famous Farnese Family.

The Palazzo della Pilotta (1583) was the residence of the Farneses Dukes. The Palazzo Ducale and the Farnese Theatre were all damaged but restored after bombing during World War II. I wish we would have been able to get in and see the Teatro Farnese.

If you want to see other art, the Galleria Nazionale has the main art collection for the city.

But we just enjoyed walking and exploring the town. There is a great atmosphere despite the fact that during World War II, the city was heavily damaged by Allied bombs.