Parco Ducale

Parco Ducale is a large garden in Parma featuring tree-lined paths, open lawns, and water features arranged throughout the grounds. The layout includes different sections connected by walkways, with a notable central area and surrounding wooded zones.

The garden originated when a ruling duke commissioned its creation in the 1500s on land where a medieval fortress once stood. Over the following centuries, sculptors and designers added decorative elements that shaped the park into the form visitors know today.

This green space serves as a gathering place for local residents who walk, play, and rest among the trees throughout the day. It reflects how Parma's past grandeur blends with modern everyday life.

The grounds are accessible from multiple points near the city center and feature paved walkways suitable for casual strolling. Visitors will find that walking through different sections offers varied terrain and varying amounts of shade depending on time of day.

A notable feature is a fountain positioned on an island within a central pond, originally located at a different ducal residence. This fountain was relocated and restored in the 1990s, revealing how art objects were moved between the rulers' properties over time.