Parma Cathedral facts for kids
Parma Cathedral is a famous Roman Catholic church in Parma, Italy. Its full name in Italian is Duomo di Parma or Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta. This beautiful church is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the main church for the Diocese of Parma.
The cathedral is a great example of Romanesque architecture, which was popular in Europe a long time ago. One of its most special features is the dome. It has an incredible painting by the famous Renaissance artist Antonio da Correggio. This painting uses a technique called illusionism, which makes it look like the figures are floating in the sky!
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History of Parma Cathedral
The Parma Cathedral you see today isn't the first church on this spot. There was likely a church here as early as the 6th century. Another church was built in the 9th century.
However, a big fire destroyed an early church in August 1058. After this, Bishop Cadalo started building a new cathedral in a different spot. This new church was officially opened in 1106 by Paschal II.
Just a few years later, in 1117, a strong earthquake badly damaged the church. It had to be rebuilt and repaired. You can still see parts of the original building in some areas, like the choir and the back parts of the church.
Architecture and Design
The front of the cathedral, called the façade, is very wide. It is made from blocks of sandstone. This part was finished in 1178. It has three levels of loggias, which are like open galleries. There are also three main doors.
The doors were carved by Luchino Bianchino in 1494. You can also see two large marble lions supporting the arches above the main door. These lions were carved in 1281 by Giambono da Bissone.
Bell Tower
The tall, pointed bell tower was added later, between 1284 and 1294. It is built in the Gothic style. At the very top of the tower, there is a shiny copper angel. There were plans to build a second, matching tower on the left side, but it was never started.
Right next to the cathedral is the Baptistery of Parma. It's a separate, eight-sided building where baptisms used to take place.
Inside the Cathedral
The inside of Parma Cathedral is shaped like a Latin cross. It has a main area called the nave and two side aisles. These areas are separated by large pillars. The front part of the church and the side sections (transepts) are raised up. This is because there is a crypt, or underground area, underneath them.
The tops of the pillars, called capitals, are very special. Many of them have detailed carvings. These carvings show leaves, mythical creatures, battle scenes, and stories from the Bible.
Famous Frescoes
The walls of the nave and the back of the church are covered with amazing paintings called frescoes. These were done by artists like Lattanzio Gambara and Bernardino Gatti. Along the nave, above the arches, are paintings in one color that show stories from the Old Testament and events from the Passion of Christ.
The most famous painting inside the cathedral is on the dome. It is called Assumption of the Virgin. The artist Antonio da Correggio painted this incredible work between 1526 and 1530. It makes you feel like you are looking up into heaven!
Artworks and Chapels
A red marble staircase from the 16th century leads up to the transepts. In the right transept, you can see a famous stone carving called the Deposition. It was made by Benedetto Antelami in 1178. This carving used to be part of the pulpit, where sermons were given.
The side chapels in the cathedral were built for important noble families from Parma. Two of these, the Valeri Chapel and the Commune Chapel, still have their original decorations from the 14th century. The Valeri Chapel has frescoes from the 15th century. The frescoes in the Capella del Comune were painted after a terrible plague in 1410–11. They are dedicated to Saint Sebastian.
The Crypt
The crypt is the underground part of the cathedral. Here, you can find pieces of old mosaics. These mosaics show that there might have been a temple or place of worship here as early as the 3rd or 4th century AD.
The crypt also holds a monument to Saint Bernardo di Uberti. He was a bishop of Parma from 1106 to 1133 and is a patron saint of the area. This monument was made in 1544. Other chapels in the crypt also have beautiful old frescoes.
See also
- History of medieval Arabic and Western European domes
Images for kids
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Piazza Duomo Parma
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The apse, or back part, of the cathedral
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Inside the crypt
