Parma has a historical and architectural heritage that always offers new discoveries and emotions.
Parma is a Medieval, Renaissance, Ducal and musical city. But also of Art Nouveau, an artistic and architectural style that established itself in Italy at the beginning of the twentieth century, inspired by the floral world and widely used in the decorations of palaces, villas, balconies, furniture and even in precious frescoes for interiors.
The route in the center can be done on foot, or even by bicycle.
Among the places in the city, you can only visit the interior of the Palazzo delle Poste - Post Office Palace according to the opening hours of the post office.
The itinerary through the Liberty style of Parma can only start from the historic center.
Behind the Duomo and the Baptistery, between Piazzale Salvo d'Acquisto and Via del Prato, in the shadow of the Sanctuary of San Francesco del Prato, overlooks the Liberty Residence, designed by Giorgio Alessi Canosio in 1907.
The building enchants with its decorative elements in wrought iron and the geometric and phytomorphic motifs that intertwine in a harmonious design. A few steps away and also signed by the same designer, there is another Art Nouveau building to be admired.
In a moment we arrive in Piazza Duomo, we cross it and, continuing towards Via Cavour, we meet the Palazzo di Riserva, where in the main entrance the floral art is so evident in the decorations by Riccardo Del Prato.
The nearby Palazzo delle Poste is a real surprise: built in 1905 by the architect Moderanno Chiavelli in Art Nouveau style from the façade to the interiors, it has richly decorated ceilings, with frescoes by the painters Paolo Baratta and Cleomene Marini, instead the sculptural inserts are by Alessandro Marzaroli.
In the nearby Borgo del Parmigianino number 6, we find Palazzo Raboni, where floral art returns in the decorations of the balconies and windows.
Crossing Piazzale della Pace, dominated by the great Monumental Complex of Pilotta, your view is captured by the great Altar of the monument dedicated to Giuseppe Verdi. Built in the early twentieth century, the monument was part of a larger complex, damaged during the Second World War. Consisting of granite and bronze and created by the sculptor Ettore Ximenes, it was inaugurated on February 22, 1920.
Not far away, crossing Ponte Verdi you will be in the charm of the Ducal park and the majestic and elegant Ducal Palace, and then walking Parma stream side where the charm of Liberty is evident in the facades of Bormioli Houses.
Looking at them, today it is impossible to imagine the history behind them, that begins in 1854 when Domenico, Rocco and Carlo Bormioli bought the "Royal Majolica and Glass Factory of Parma" from the Serventi family, which was built more than a century earlier.
The artisanal production of ceramics and glass took place in this factory, and it is here that the history of the business of the well-known Bormioli family begins in Parma.
Built in 1905 by the architect Alfredo Provinciali, the Liberty buildings we see today are the result of the renovation that took place after the factory closed.
Continuing along Parma stream side with a walk of about 10 minutes, at Ponte Italia in Viale Rustici there is one of the most important examples of Art Nouveau in Parma: the Villino Bonazzi which enchants passers-by with its splendid decorations, floral motifs on the facade, in the doors and on the balconies. Designed in 1911 by the architect Mario Stocchi Monti, the Liberty seems to come to life in all its eclectic forms.
Not far away, in Via Frugoni, the Liberty style returns in the facades of the Houses of the Cooperativa La Casa, built in 1915 by the architect Massimo Maffei and in Palazzo Malpelli, in Piazzale Corte d'Appello.
Passing through Ponte Italia, with a short walk you are in the Villetta Monumental Cemetery, which houses valuable funerary monuments with Deco style decorations.
Here, you can find different thematic itineraries.
The itinerary continues in the Oltretorrente, which has its masterpiece of Art Nouveau in Via D'Azeglio 6: it is Valesi house, a splendid example designed in 1911 by the architect Moderanno Chiavelli (the same one of the Palazzo delle Poste). It has an elegant turret, a façade with floral decorations and phytomorphic wrought iron on the balconies.
Concluding this fascinating journey to discover the Art Nouveau of Parma, you cannot miss a trip to Salsomaggiore Terme, 35 km from Parma, to admire the Terme Berzieri, one of the greatest Art Deco masterpieces in Europe.
Inaugurated in 1923 on a design by Ugo Giusti and Giulio Bernardini, they were decorated by Galileo Chini, who also signed the frescoes of the former Grand Hotel des Thermes (now Palazzo dei Congressi) inside which, in the Moorish Hall, the Parma director Bernardo Bertolucci shot some famous scenes of the Oscar-winning film "The Last Emperor".
