 In
the beautiful Italian City of Parma, famous for its gastronomical
delights there is a historic square with a majestic cathedral and
baptistery, the church of San Giovanni and the Bishop’s Palace.
It is called Piazza del Duomo or Cathedral Square.
Piazza del Duomo is located just outside Parma’s ancient
core. Construction of the cathedral began in the eleventh century
under the order of Pope Honorius II. It was completed between 1130
and 1178. It is one of the prime examples of Romanesque architecture
in Italy.
 In
the façade there are three orders of loggias. A tall gothic
brick tower flanks it. The presbytery stands exactly on the crypt.
It is above floor level. In the dome there is a beautiful fresco
of Correggio’s famous depiction of the Virgin’s Assumption.
This is one of the most widely admired and influential frescoes
of the renaissance. The Duomo was almost five hundred years old
when Correggio redecorated the dome. This dome has evoked diverse
and often contradictory reactions from many famous personalities
including the famous Venetian painter Titian and the English playwright
Charles Dickens. Two stone lions stand besides the main door of
the cathedral guarding it.
The Baptistery made of pink marble is the vision of one man, Benedetto
Antelami. Architecturally the style of the baptistery is considered
as a transition between the Romanesque and Gothic style leading
to a monument of considerable medieval importance.
 It
is built on an octagonal plane using pink Verona marble. Outside
this octagonal building there are three splayed portals built between
1196 and 1270. Benedetto Antelami designed the north and west portals
while the east one, which is the least decorated of the three, was
probably finished by his students. The inside of the baptistery
is divided into sixteen sides rising into sixteen niches. There
is a stunning and beautiful fresco in each niche depicting a biblical
scene. It is surrounded by sculptures representing the months of
the year, the seasons and the zodiac signs. The statues of Solomon,
the Queen of Sheba and the Archangel Gabriel are of special importance.
There is a double immersion bath with an octagonal structure in
the middle of the baptistery. It dates back to the end of the thirteenth
century.
The monastic Church of San Giovanni Evangelista is also an important
part of the square. It stands right behind the cathedral apse. It
has beautiful frescoes by Correggio and Parmigianino. It has an
interesting sacristy. The cloisters are also worth a visit.
The Bishop’s Palace or Palazzo del Vescovado also forms an
integral part of this square.
Piazza del Duomo or Cathedral Square is one of the most tranquil
and harmonious city centres in Italy.
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