I was happy to discover upon waking, that my second day in Parma, even though still cloudy, was not as rainy as the previous day had been. I was determined to venture a bit farther from the apartment, and to see a few of the sights that I felt were important to see, when visiting this city. 
Because of the still slightly unsettled weather, I began my day with a visit to the Palazzo della Pilotta. This is a palace built in 1580 by the Farnese Dukes. Today, it is home to a group of cultural institutions: the Galleria Nazionale, the incredible Teatro Farnese, the National Archaeological Museum, the Palatino library, and the Bodoni Museum of Art. 
Once you purchase your ticket, on the building’s first floor, your visit begins in the beautiful Teatro Farnese. This wooden theater is considered to be one of the very first theaters ever to be built with a permanent proscenium arch. It was the first theater in all of Europe to have mobile sets. The space that we visit today is a reconstruction of the original, as that was destroyed by bombs during World War II. The really nice thing, about visiting this theater, is that not only do we get to stand in the audience area, but the museum path takes us backstage as well!
After the theater, one can visit the rest of the museum in any order that you wish.
After you finish exploring the museum, take a moment and return to the front of the building, where off to the side you will find the Monument to Giuseppe Verdi.
My next stop was just around the corner of the next street – The Monastero di San Paolo and the Castello dei Burattini.
The Castello wouldn’t be open until later in the afternoon, so I purchased a ticket for the Monastero, planning to return later to see the other attraction. 
The Monastero di San Paolo is a popular tourist destination for one reason – the famous Camera della Badessa with its incredible frescoes on the ceiling, by Correggio. 
I found it best to wait patiently while the few groups that were in the rooms of the monastery passed through, as the space is small, and I wanted to be able to enjoy the frescoes at my leisure, and without other people in the way.
Across the street, take a moment and visit the beautiful post office!
After lunch, I headed back to visit the Castello dei Burattini – the Puppet Museum!
Around the corner is yet another museum, the Pinacoteca Stuard.
Piazza Garibaldi is the main piazza of the city. 
Of course, one doesn’t have a Piazza Garibaldi without a statue of the man himself!
The Monument to Parmigianino is in Piazza Steccata, in front of the beautiful Chiesa della Steccata. 
While this church is certainly worth a visit when in Parma, do yourself a favor, and buy a ticket for a guided tour of the small museum attached to it. 
Next up: more from the beautiful city of Parma, including a visit to the city’s outdoor market, and the Cittadella!
Note: this blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations which may appear.