Teatro Farnese

Historic Building and Theatre in Parma

Teatro Farnese
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Sailko

Teatro Farnese is an exquisite Renaissance theater located within the Palazzo della Pilotta in Parma, Italy. Its construction was completed in 1618 under the direction of Giovanni Battista Aleotti. The vision for this grand theater originated from Ranuccio I Farnese, the Duke of Parma and Piacenza. Tragically, during World War II in 1944, the theatre suffered extensive damage from an Allied air raid. However, it was subsequently painstakingly reconstructed and reopened to the public in 1962.

Teatro Farnese holds a distinguished place in history as one of only three Renaissance theaters that have survived to the present day, the others being the Teatro all’antica in Sabbioneta and the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza.

Some experts attribute Teatro Farnese as the first instance of a permanent proscenium theatre. In such theaters, the audience views the performance through a single frame, known as the “proscenium arch,” which is a defining feature of modern theater design.

The Teatro Farnese appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Parma!

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Visiting Teatro Farnese

Address: Teatro Farnese, Piazza della Pilotta, Parma, Province of Parma, Italy
Duration: 20 minutes

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