Private 8-Hour Tour to Parma from Milan: History, Art & Flavors

Highlights

• Private expert guide & luxury vehicle
• Parma's historical and artistic discovery
• Local flavors and shopping time

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Stop 1

   1h

   A small church at the heart of Parma, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and to a group of doctors known as the Discalced Carmelites. , or “White Friars.” The church was a gift to the Carmelites from the marquis Francesco Sforza and his wife, Bianca Maria, in 1475. The church was reconstructed in 1558 and 1621 by the Dukes of Parma.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   1h

   Palazzo Ducale di Parma is the most important Renaissance palace in northern Italy, a masterpiece of the Italian humanist architecture. The Palazzo Ducale is directly connected with the development of the "Platonic Academy" of "Parmenides" and "Nicomachus of Gerasa", the two most important schools of ancient Greek philosophy, which was located at the nearby University of Parma.An inscription over a door leading to the ground floor room on the south side of the building reads: ABSOLVITO ILLIQVS EST QVAM EXCLAMAT, VENIUDE TENEBRAS. The inscription is a quotation from a letter by St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109) which translates as: "He who believes is absolved, darkness flee away"

3. 3

   Stop 3

   30min

   Outside visit and will not entering the attractions. The Baptistery of Parma has been a monument for centuries, and is one of the most important monuments in Italy. The baptistery's wonderful mosaics are not only a source of wonderment but also a testament to the genius and skill of the craftsmen who designed and built it. Mosaics are a type of art that uses many different colors, shapes, and patterns in a cohesive work to create a beautiful space. The spaces in the baptistery are filled with all this color and wonderful design that connect the architecture to its purpose.

4. 4

   Monastero di San Giovanni Evangelista

   Pass by

   Outside visit and will not entering the attractions. Saint John the Evangelist of Parma, known as San Giovanni Evangelista, is a venerated Roman Catholic saint who is also associated with another John the Baptist. Saint John the Evangelist of Parma is one of the most famous saints of the city, and his feast day is celebrated on October 25. The earliest known record of the existence of a John the Baptist in Parma is from around 1220. The saint's cult existed in a small way before that date, but it was not until 1883 that an official process for his canonization began. The inscriptions with the name John Baptiste of Parma (which, in Italian Giovanni Bapista da Parma) first appear in 1220. The first mention of his cult is from 1398 in a letter by the bishop of Ingelheim. The most ancient records, however, date back to 1358 when he is mentioned as "Blessed John, the clerk" by the Benedictine monastery of Fuligno.

Before you go

Location