Everything about Parma totally explained
Parma is a
city in the
Italian region of
Emilia-Romagna, famous for its
architecture and the fine countryside around it. It is the home of the
University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world.
Parma is divided into two parts by the little stream with the same name. The
Italian poet
Attilio Bertolucci (born in a hamlet in the countryside) wrote: "As a capital city it had to have a river. As a little capital it received a stream, which is often dry".
Prehistory
Parma was already a built-up area in the
Bronze Age. It has verified by now that in the current position of the city rose a "terramare". The "terramare" (Earthsea) were ancient villages in structural wood on pile-dwelling built according to a defined scheme and squared form, built on the dry land, generally in proximity of the rivers. During this age (among the 1500 B.C. and the 800 B.C.) the first necropolises (placed where there's the actual Cathedral Plaza and Millstone Square) rose also.
History
The city was most probably founded and named by the
Etruscans, for a
parma (circular shield) was a
Latin borrowing, as were many Roman terms for particular arms, and
Parmeal,
Parmni and
Parmnial are names that appear in Etruscan inscriptions.
Diodorus Siculus (XXII, 2,2; XXVIII, 2,1) reported that the Romans had changed their rectangular shields for round ones, imitating the Etruscans. Whether the Etruscan encampment was so named because it was round, like a shield, or whether its situation was a shield against the Gauls to the north, is more a matter of choice.
The
Roman colony was founded in
183 BC, together with
Modena. 2000 families were settled. Parma had a certain importance as a road hub over the
Via Aemilia and the Via Claudia. It had a forum, in what is today the central Garibaldi Square. In
44 BC, the city was destroyed, and Augustus rebuilt it. During the
Roman Empire it gained the title of
Julia for its loyalty to the imperial house.
The city was subsequently sacked by
Attila, and later given by the barbarian king
Odoacer to his fellows. During the
Gothic War, however,
Totila destroyed it. It was then part of the
Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna (changing name to
Chrysopolis, "Golden City", probably due to the presence of the army's treasure) and, from
569, of the
Lombard Kingdom of Italy. During the Middle Ages, Parma became an important stage of the
Via Francigena, the main road connecting Rome to Northern Europe: several castles, hospitals and inns were built in the following centuries to host the increasing number of pilgrims.
Under the
Frankish rule, Parma became the capital of a county (
774). Like most northern Italian cities, it was nominally a part of the
Holy Roman Empire created by
Charlemagne, but locally ruled by its bishops, first being Guidobus. In the subsequent struggles between
Papacy and Empire, Parma was usually member of the Imperial party. Two of its bishops became
antipopes: Càdalo, founder of the Cathedral, as
Honorius II); and Guibert, as
Clement III). An almost independent
commune was created around 1140. After the
Peace of Constance (
1183), quarrels with the neighbouring communes of
Reggio Emilia,
Piacenza and
Cremona became harsher: the aim was the control over the vital trading line over the
Po River.
The struggle between
Guelphs and Ghibelline was a feature of Parma too. In 1213 her
podestà was the Guelph
Rambertino Buvalelli. Then, after a long stance alongside the Emperors, the Papist families of the city gained control in
1248: the city was besieged by the Emperor
Frederick II, who was however crushed in the
battle that ensued.
Parma fell under the control of
Milan in
1341. After a short-lived period of independence under the Terzi family (
1404-
1409),
Sforza imposed their rule (
1440-
1449) through their associated families of
Pallavicino,
Rossi, Sanvitale and Da Correggio. These created a kind of new
feudalism, building towers and castles throughout the city and the land. These fiefs evolved into truly independent states: the Landi governed the higher
Taro's valley from
1257 to
1682. The Pallavicino seignory extended over the eastern part of today's province, with the capital in
Busseto. Parma's territories were an exception for Northern Italy, as its feudal subdivision frequently continued until more recent years. For example, Solignano was a Pallavicino family possession until
1805, and
San Secondo belonged to the
Rossi well into the
19th century.
Between the
14th and the
15th Centuries, Parma was at the centre of the Italian Wars. The
Battle of Fornovo was fought in its territory. The
Frenchheld the city in
1500-
1521, with a short Papal parenthesis in
1512-
1515. After the foreigners were expelled, Parma belonged to the
Papal States until
1545.
In that year the
Farnese pope,
Paul III, detached Parma and
Piacenza from the Papal States and gave them as a duchy for his illegitimate son,
Pier Luigi Farnese, whose descendants ruled in Parma until
1731, when
Antonio Farnese (1679-1731), last male of the Farnese line, died. The state was consolidated by
Ottavio II Farnese (
1547-
1586). He also renovated the city's structures to create a true capital for his little but rich reign.
In
1594 a Constitution was emanated, the
University enhanced and the Nobles' College founded. The war to reduce the barons' power continued for several years: in
1612 Barbara Sanseverino was executed in the central square of Parma, together with six other nobles charged of plotting against the duke. At the end of the
17th century, after the defeat of Pallavicini (
1588) and Landi (
1682) the Farnese duke could finally hold with firm hand all Parmense territories. The castle of the Sanseverino in
Colorno was turned into a luxurious summer palace by
Ferdinando Bibiena.
In
1731 the combined
Duchy of Parma and
Piacenza was given to the
House of Bourbon in a diplomatic shuffle of the European dynastic politics that were played out in Italy. Under the new rulers, however, it faced a certain decadence. In
1734 all the outstanding art collections of the duke's palaces of Parma,
Colorno and
Sala Baganza were moved to
Naples.
Parma was under French influence after the
Peace of Aachen (
1748). Parma became a modern state with the energetic action of prime minister
Guillaume du Tillot. He created the bases for a modern industry and fought strenuously against the church's privileges. The city lived a period of particular splendour: the Palatine Library, the Archaeological Museum, the Picture Gallery and the Botanical Garden were founded, together with the Royal Printing Works directed by
Giambattista Bodoni.
During the
Napoleonic Wars (
1802-
1814), Parma was part of the
Taro Département. Under its French name
Parme, it was also created a
duché grand-fief de l'Empire for
Charles-François Lebrun, duc de Plaisance, the Emperor's Arch-Treasurer, on 24 April 1808 (extinguished 1926).
After its restoration by the 1814-15
Vienna Congress, the
Risorgimento's upheavals had no fertile ground in the tranquil duchy. In
1847, after
Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma's death, it passed again to the
Bourbons, the last of whom was stabbed in the city and left it to his Widow, Luisa Maria of Berry. On
September 15,
1859 the dynasty was declared deposed, and Parma entered in the newly formed provinces of Emilia under
Carlo Farini. With the
plebiscite of
1860 the former duchy became part of the unified
Kingdom of Italy.
The loss of the capital role provoked an economical and social crisis in Parma. It started to recover its role of industrial prominence after the connection with Piacenza and
Bologna of
1859, and with
Fornovo and
Suzzara in
1883.
Trade unions were strong in the city, in which a famous General Strike was declared from
May 1 to
June 6,
1908. The struggle with
Fascism lived its most dramatic moment in the August
1922, when the regime officer
Italo Balbo attempted to enter in the popular quarter of
Oltretorrente. The citizens organized into the
Arditi del Popolo ("People's assaulters") and pushed back the squadristi. This episode is considered the first example of Resistance in Italy.
During
World War II, Parma was a strong centre of
partisan resistance. The train station and marshalling yards were targets for high altitude bombing by the Allies in the spring of 1944. Much of the Palazzo della Pilotta — situated near the train station — was destroyed by errant bombs, but Parma didn't see widespread destruction during the war. Parma was liberated of the German occupation (1943-1945) on
April 26,
1945 by the partisan resistance and troops of
Brazilian Expeditionary Force (External Link
).
Main sights
Churches
Palaces
The Palazzo della Pilotta (1583). It houses the Academy of Fine Arts with artists of the School of Parma (Painting), the Palatine Library, the National Gallery, the Archaeological Museum, the Bodoni Museum and the Farnese Theatre.
The Ducal Palace, built from 1561 for Duke Ottavio Farnese on a design by Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola. Built on the former Sforza castle area, it was enlarged in the 17th-18th centuries. It includes the Palazzo Eucherio Sanvitale, with interesting decorations dating from the 16th centuries and attributed to Gianfrancesco d'Agrate, and a fresco by Parmigianino. Annexed is the Ducal Park also by Vignola. It was turned into a French-style garden in 1749.
The Palazzo del Comune, built in 1627.
The Palazzo del Governatore ("Governor's Palace"), dating from the 13th century.
The Bishop's Palace (1055).
Ospedale Vecchio ("Old Hospital"), created in 1250 and later renovated in Renaissance times. It is now home to the State Archives and to the Communal Library.
Other
The Teatro Farnese was constructed in 1618-1619 by Giovan Battista Aleotti, totally in wood. It was commissioned by Duke Ranuccio I for the visit of Cosimo I de' Medici.
The Cittadella, a large fortress erected in the 16th century by order of Duke Alessandro Farnese, close to the old walls.
The Pons Lapidis (also known as Roman Bridge or Theoderic's Bridge), a Roman structure in stone dating from Augustus reign.
The Orto Botanico di Parma is a botanical garden maintained by the University of Parma.
The Teatro Regio ("Royal Theatre"), built in 1821-1829 by Nicola Bettoli. It has a Neo-Classical facade and a porch with double window order. It is the city's opera house.
The Auditorium Niccolò Paganini, designed by Renzo Piano.
The Museum House of Arturo Toscanini, where the famous musician was born.
Museo Lombardi. It exhibits a prestigious collection of art and historical items regarding Maria Luigia of Habsburg and her first husband Napoleon Bonaparte; important works and documents concerning the Duchy of Parma in the 18th and 19th centuries are also kept by the Museum.
Frazioni (villages)
Alberi, Baganzola, Beneceto, Botteghino, Ca'Terzi, Calestani, Carignano, Carpaneto, Cartiera, Casalbaroncolo, Casalora di Ravadese, Casaltone, Case Capelli, Case Cocconi, Case Crostolo, Case Nuove, Case Rosse, Case Vecchie, Casino dalla Rosa, Casagnola, Castelletto, Castelnovo, Cervara, Chiozzola, Coloreto, Corcagnano, Eia, Fontanini, Fontanellato, Gaione, Ghiaiata Nuova, Il Moro, La Catena, La Palazzina, Malandriano, Marano, Marore, Martorano, Molino di Malandriano, Osteria San Martino, Panocchia, Paradigna, Pedrignano, Pilastrello, Pizzolese, Ponte, Porporano, Pozzetto Piccolo, Quercioli, Ravadese, Ronco Pascolo, Rosa, San Prospero, San Ruffino, San Secondo, Sissa, Soragna, Valera, Viarolo, Viazza, Vicofertile, Vicomero, Vigatto, Vigheffio, Vigolante.
Food
Parma is famous for its food: Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (also produced in Reggio Emilia), Prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham). In 2004 Parma was appointed the seat of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Parma also has two food multinationals, Barilla and Parmalat.
Sister cities
Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
Guadalajara, Spain
Bourg-en-Bresse, France
Tours, France
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Worms, Germany
Szeged, Hungary
Moncton, Canada
Stockton, California, United States of America
Sport
Parma F.C. was founded in 1913. It is a Serie A football club renowned in Italy and Europe for its successes including three national cups, a European Cup of the Winner's Cup, two UEFA Cups, a European Supercup and an Italian Supercup. It plays in the city's stade Ennio Tardini which can host up to 29,000 spectators. Also volleyball, women basketball, rugby union and baseball have large popularity in the city and have scored relevant successes.
Parma is also home to two rugby union teams in the top national division, Overmach Rugby Parma and SKG Gran Rugby.
Miscellaneous
Parma hosts the Teatro Regio, a famous opera theatre.
Stendhal set much of his masterpiece (The Charterhouse of Parma) in the city, even though there was no "Charterhouse" in real life.
John Grisham's novel Playing for Pizza is predominantly set in Parma. It is about an American professional football quarterback who plays for the local American football team, the Parma Panthers.
Painters and sculptors of Parma
Francesco Mazzola, best known as Il Parmigianino, painter
Sisto Badalocchio, painter
Alessandro Araldi, painter
Michelangelo Anselmi, painter born in Tuscany
Giovanni Maria Francesco Rondani, painter
Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli, painter
Filippo Mazzola, painter
Antonio da Correggio (Antonio Allegri), painter born in Correggio (Reggio Emilia)
Benedetto Antelami
Giacomo (or Jacopo) Zanguidi (Bertoia)
Jose Antonio Parma
Giovan Federico Bonzagni
Amedeo Bocchi
Bartolomeo Schedoni
Oreste Carpi
Other famous people from Parma
Giambattista Bodoni, typographer
Ferdinando Paer, composer
Giuseppe Verdi, opera composer
Arturo Toscanini, conductor
Bernardo Bertolucci, director
Giovannino Guareschi, writer
Alessandro Cortini, musician
Vittorio Bottego, explorer
Attilio Bertolucci, poet
Further Information
Get more info on 'Parma'.
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