Palazzo della Pilotta, Art palace in Parma, Italy
Palazzo della Pilotta is a Renaissance building complex in Parma that brings together several museums, a library and a theatre under one roof. The three large courtyards and the monumental scissor staircase connect the different levels and rooms throughout the structure.
Construction began in 1583 under Duke Ottavio Farnese as a connecting corridor between the old Viscontea fortress and the Farnese family houses. Later dukes expanded the complex in the 17th century to include a theatre, library and galleries for their art collections.
The National Gallery inside holds works by Correggio and other Renaissance masters closely tied to the artistic identity of the city. Visitors walk through halls where the heritage of the Farnese family meets the modern museum life of Parma.
The complex is entered from Piazzale della Pace, where the garden and fountain laid out by Mario Botta between 1986 and 2001 trace the perimeter of the former church of San Pietro. Inside, the museums, the Biblioteca Palatina and the Teatro Farnese occupy different wings around three courtyards, so allow time to move between them.
The name Pilotta comes from pelota, a ball game Spanish soldiers played in one of the courtyards during the 16th century. This unusual naming recalls the military past of the building before it became a cultural center.
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