Photo: Giuseppe Alinovi (1811-1848), Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Historic villa / palace
Ducal Palace of Parma
Neoclassical palace in Parma, Italy
Parma (PR), Emilia-Romagna
At a glance
- Architect
- Francesco Paciotto
- Coordinates
- 44°48′15″ N, 10°19′37″ E
- Address
- piazzale della Pace
History and description
The Ducal Palace of Parma (Italian: Palazzo Ducale di Parma) was a neoclassical palace in Parma, Italy. It was located on the west side of the Piazzale della Pace. Between its construction and 1859, it was the residence of the Dukes of Parma. After 1859, it became the prefecture.
Throughout its history, the palace was not a single building but a collection of privately acquired properties gradually embellished by the dukes, which never formed a homogeneous ensemble. Instead, they represented a grouping of diverse and unfinished projects.
One notable element associated with the Ducal Palace is the Palazzo della Pilotta, which was part of the complex. This compound housed a series of buildings and structures used for various purposes, including a library, theater, art gallery, and other cultural spaces.
During the Second World War, the residential core suffered severe damage during air raids in 1944, and it was not reconstructed afterwards. In its place, a large empty and landscaped space known as Piazza della Pace was established, which serves as public space and also as a reminder of the turbulent events that occurred during the war.
History
In 1545, Pope Paul III created the hereditary Duchy of Parma for his natural son, Pier Luigi Farnese (1503–1547). It was held by the House of Farnese until 1731, when the last Farnese duke, Antonio Farnese, died without a male heir. Initially, Piacenza was the capital of the duchy. But, Pier Luigi's son, Ottavio Farnese (1524–1586) moved the capital to Parma. Unlike, the monumental residence in Piacenza, the Palazzo Farnese, the ducal palace in Parma was modest. Background was the empty ducal treasury, due to economic conditions and the many wars that ravaged northern Italy in the second half of the 16th century. The palace was only a set of neighbouring houses, along the current Strada Garibaldi, which were acquired for temporarily use by the ducal court. In addition, across the Parma river, Ottavio transformed an ancient Visconti fortress into a summer residence surrounded by gardens, the current Palazzo del Giardino.
In 1580, Ottavio decided to connect his Parmesan palaces by building a large corridor that connected the ducal palace with the 'Rocchetta Viscontea', a keep of which traces can be seen next to the Parma river. He probably involved the architect, Francesco Paciotto, to do the design. The project echoed the idea, never realized, of connecting the two Farnese residences in Rome via a bridge: the Palazzo Farnese and the Villa Farnesina. It can also be compared to the Vasari Corridor in Florence, which connected the Palazzo Vecchio with the Palazzo Pitti, allowing safe passage for the Medici grand dukes of Tuscany. Construction of the corridor started in 1581, but was halted in 1586, when Ottavio passed away. Fragments have been preserved in the south side of Pilotta courtyard. Over the next fifty years, additional buildings and courtyards were added to the corridor. This complex is now known as the Palazzo della Pilotta.
Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma (1545–1592), showed less interest in continuing the works on the ducal palace, as he mostly stayed in Brussels, being Governor of the Spanish Netherlands. …
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Ducal Palace of Parma».
People
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
ParmaTrain, nearest
700 m as the crow flies
Ducal Palace of Parmapiazzale della Pace
Aeroporto di Parma "Giuseppe Verdi"3.5 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villas and palaces in Emilia-Romagna
- Free 1st Sunday
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ducal Palace of Parma?
Ducal Palace of Parma is in Parma, in the province of Parma (Emilia-Romagna), Italy. Address: piazzale della Pace. GPS coordinates: 44.80413, 10.32706.
What else is there to see near Ducal Palace of Parma?
Nearby you’ll find: Palazzo della Provincia (100 m away), Palazzo di Riserva (100 m away), Museo Glauco Lombardi (100 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 7 photos
- Alinovi Palazzo Ducale-Pilotta — Giuseppe Alinovi (1811-1848), Public domain
- Palazzo Ducale Parma — Giacomo Giacopelli (1808-1893), Public domain
- Parma – Ex palazzo Ducale della Prefettura (xilografia) — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Parma Palazzo Ducale - 1750 Rococo Facade by Jean Marie Bigaud — Jean Marie Bigaud, Public domain
- Parma Palazzo Ducale - Aquarel by Marie Louise of Habsburg in 1818 — Marie Louise of Habsburg, Public domain
- Parma Palazzo Ducale - Postcard 1900 — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Parma Palazzo Ducale - Postcard from first half 20th century — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences