Parma Cathedral, Parma, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

Parma Cathedral (Duomo di Parma) is a Romanesque church on Piazza Duomo in Parma, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin and consecrated in 1106. It is known for Correggio's dome fresco inside and for the sculpture of Benedetto Antelami. Next to it stands the pink marble baptistery, and together they form the medieval heart of the city.

The story behind it

The cathedral is one of the major Romanesque buildings of northern Italy. Its most famous sculptor, Benedetto Antelami, worked in Parma in the late twelfth century. The relief of the Deposition inside the cathedral is dated 1178 and is attributed to him. He is also credited with the baptistery across the square, begun in 1196 and clad in pink Verona marble.

Parma tells a legend about that baptistery. The devil, always sure of his own skill, heard how beautiful it was and came down to see it, certain he could do better. When he found the work flawless, he lost his temper and kicked the east side, the one that stays in shadow. The baptistery was not damaged, and the story says his footprint is still there. It is a legend, of course, but it makes a good reason to walk round to that side and look.

What to look for

• Two stone lions support the columns of the cathedral porch, and in medieval imagery the lion could stand for Christ and for strength guarding a sacred place.
• Look closely at the lions' bodies: the tradition is that the majestic front shows divine nature and the smoother, combed back shows human nature.
• Inside, look up at the dome, where Correggio painted the Assumption of the Virgin in a swirl of figures rising toward the light.
• On the baptistery, compare the pink marble with the cathedral's facade, then find the shadowed east side from the devil legend.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about an hour for the cathedral and the baptistery together, a little longer if you want to study the dome and the sculpture.
• Go in the morning for softer light on the facades. The east side of the baptistery stays in shadow for much of the day.
• Dress modestly for the church, with shoulders and knees covered, and check current opening hours and whether the baptistery needs a separate ticket.
• The piazza sits in the old centre, so you can easily continue on foot to other sights of Parma afterwards.

See it on a quest

Parma Mystery: An unusual detective is a self-guided walk through the city on your phone, and the cathedral area is part of the route in the old centre. You reach it on foot as one stop in a longer walk, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in what is in front of you. It suits anyone who likes a mystery with their sightseeing. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no fixed departure.