The complex of Palazzo della Pilotta, a symbol of the ducal power of the Farnese family, stands on the western side of piazzale della Pace in Parma.
The heart of the complex dates to 1583 and houses some of the city’s most important institutions: the Palatine Library, founded in 1761 by Dukes Philip and Ferdinand of Bourbon-Parma, conserves 708,000 volumes, pamphlets, single folios and periodicals, in addition to maps, incunable editions, prints, drawings and an archive of Hebrew manuscripts; the Archaeological Museum conserves the excavation records of the archaeological site of Velleia, marbles from the Gonzaga and Farnese collections, the Egyptian collections and a focus on the city of Parma; the National Gallery was created by Marie Louise of Austria who wanted a new type of exhibition setting for the large altar pieces by Correggio and other paintings in the early 1800s; and the Teatro Farnese, commissioned in 1618 by Duke Ranuccio I of Parma and Piacenza. This was initially built of wood and plaster painted to resemble marble, and was restored to its original design between 1956-1960, becoming the entrance to the National Gallery.
Emilia-Romagna Film Commission
Viale Aldo Moro 38 — 40127 Bologna
Phone: +39 051 5278753
Email: filmcom@regione.emilia-romagna.it
