PARMA – Day Two

DSCN6682DSCN6683I 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.  DSCN6685Because 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.  DSCN6686DSCN6697DSCN6692DSCN6699DSCN6700DSCN6709Once 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!DSCN6770DSCN6738After the theater, one can visit the rest of the museum in any order that you wish.DSCN6748DSCN6756DSCN6757DSCN6758DSCN6767After 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.DSCN6776DSCN6785DSCN6786DSCN6783DSCN6795DSCN6796DSCN6798DSCN6803DSCN6806DSCN6808My next stop was just around the corner of the next street – The Monastero di San Paolo and the Castello dei Burattini.DSCN6810The 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.  DSCN6814The 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.  DSCN6827DSCN6822I 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.DSCN6829Across the street, take a moment and visit the beautiful post office!DSCN6832DSCN6834DSCN6835DSCN6836.JPGDSCN6838DSCN6843DSCN6846After lunch, I headed back to visit the Castello dei Burattini – the Puppet Museum!DSCN6875DSCN6853DSCN6866DSCN6873Around the corner is yet another museum, the Pinacoteca Stuard.DSCN6884DSCN6877DSCN6881DSCN6883DSCN6887DSCN6886DSCN6890DSCN6891DSCN6895Piazza Garibaldi is the main piazza of the city.  DSCN6898DSCN6903DSCN6899.JPGDSCN6901.JPGOf course, one doesn’t have a Piazza Garibaldi without a statue of the man himself!DSCN6909DSCN6910DSCN6911DSCN6915DSCN6917DSCN6918The Monument to Parmigianino is in Piazza Steccata, in front of the beautiful Chiesa della Steccata.  DSCN6924DSCN6928While 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.  DSCN6934DSCN6929DSCN6930DSCN6935DSCN6941DSCN6948DSCN6949DSCN6960DSCN6982DSCN6996

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.

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