Palazzo della Pilotta & Teatro Farnese
Complesso Monumentale della Pilotta
The palace complex of the Farnese family, home to the all-wooden Farnese Theatre and the National Gallery.
This vast brick palace complex was built by the Farnese dukes at the end of the 16th century and is now the Pilotta Complex museum. The must-see is the Farnese Theatre, completed in 1618. Built entirely of wood, it seats about 3,000 people and is one of the forerunners of the modern stage. The National Gallery holds masterpieces by Correggio, Parmigianino, and Leonardo da Vinci's Woman with Loose Hair. There are also an archaeological museum and the Palatina Library. A combined ticket costs about €18. The site is closed on Mondays, and it is best to allow half a day.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 10:30–18:30 (hours vary by building); closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Teatro Regio di Parma
- Museo Glauco Lombardi
- Santa Maria della Steccata
- Camera di San Paolo
- Toscanini's Birthplace
- Piazza Garibaldi
- Baptistery of Parma
- Parma Cathedral