Pilotta

Palazzo della Pilotta is a historic palace complex in the center of Parma, Italy. Construction began in the late 16th century, initiated by Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma, to house the Farnese family art collection and to provide a grand cultural and administrative seat for the duchy. The name Pilotta refers to the area around the complex, but the precise origin of the name is debated; one theory connects it to straw or packing material once used in construction, while another links it to a local district or feature.

The complex today comprises several major institutions. The Biblioteca Palatina (Palatine Library) preserves important manuscript and printed collections. The Galleria Nazionale di Parma (National Gallery of Parma) holds significant works from the Parma and Farnese collections, spanning Renaissance and Baroque periods. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Parma (National Archaeological Museum) presents artefacts tracing the region’s ancient history. Within the Palazzo is the Teatro Farnese, a rare early-17th-century wooden theatre designed by Giovan Battista Aleotti and opened in 1628, noted for its fully wooden interior and grand scale.

Over the centuries the Pilotta has undergone various restorations and adaptations, but it remains a central cultural hub in Parma. It continues to host exhibitions, concerts, and educational activities, drawing visitors from Italy and abroad. The palace and its museums collectively preserve and display works and artefacts related to Parma’s artistic, architectural, and political history, including pieces from the Farnese collection and other regional archives.