Travels in Italy--Parma (Part 1 of 2)

Not far from Florence is the lovely town of Parma.  (Greg actually grew up near Parma and his dad worked in Parma for a while--Parma, Ohio, not Parma in Italy.)

Parma, like many places in Italy, has existed as a town for thousands of years, with many civilizations over the centuries.  It is located on a wide plain bordered by mountains.  The region is ideal for agriculture and is known for producing great cheese and ham. 

While visiting Parma, we toured the cathedral and the baptistery.  Here are some photos from our visit.

The Cathedral:

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

A lion guarding the cathedral's main entrance

The ornate nave of the cathedral

An ornate pulpit

The cathedral's ceiling was decorated like no other church we have seen. 

Altar by Alberto di Maffeolo (15th century)

Saint Joseph and the Bambino

The Deposition by Benedetto Antelami (1178)

The dome: The Assumption by Correggio (1530-1534) (fresco) 

Close up photo of the dome

The Baptistery:

A medieval baptismal font

Close up of the lion supporting the baptismal font.  A lion protecting a lamb was a typical symbol in Parma and elsewhere in the region (such Modena)

The dome of the baptistery

The baptismal font

The Baptism

St. George to the rescue.  Throughout the region, we saw many depictions of St. George.  Most are from the Middle Ages. 

Museum:  We also visited a museum that houses a collection of artifacts from the Middle Ages.  The museum is located in the excavated area of an early Christian church, located about 20 feet below the current level of the town.   

Photo of the excavations

Below are two sculptures from the 1100's--St. Martin and Samson.

A medieval sculpture of St. Mchael

Giuseppe Verdi:

Mr. Verdi looks happily surprised to receive a kiss from some random hottie.  Parma adores Verdi--he was born nearby and produced several operas in Parma.  Parma hosts an annual Verdi Festival.

Next Up:  What famous cheese comes from Parma?