Cathedral of Parma
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Image:Duomo e Battistero di Parma.jpg Image:Parma-cupola duomo.jpg The Cathedral of Parma (Duomo) is a church in Parma, Emilia-Romagna (Italy). It is one of the most important Romanesque cathedrals in Europe.
The construction was begun in 1059 by bishop Cadalo, later antipope with the name of Honorius II, and was consecrated by Paschal II in 1116. A basilica existed probably in the 6th century, but was later abandoned; another church had been consecrated in the 9th century in the rear part of the preceding one, nuder count-bishop Guibodo. The new church was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1117 and had to be restored. Of the original building, remains can be seen in the presbytery, the transept, the choir and the apses, and in some sculpture fragments. The wide façade was completed in 1178: it has three loggia floors and three portals, whose doors were sculpted by Luchino Bianchino in 1494. Between the central and the right doors is the tomb of the mathematician Biagio Pelacani, who died in 1416.
The Gothic belfry was added later, in 1284-1294: a twin construction on the left side had been conceived, but it was never begun.
The interior has a Latin cross plant, with a nave and two aisles divided by pliasters. The presbytery and the transept are elevated, to allow space for the underlying crypt. The latter houses fragments of ancient mosaics which show the presence here of a cult edifice at least in the 3rd or 4th century AD. The side chapels were built to house the sepulchers of the noble families of Parma: two of them, the Valeri Chapel and the Commune Chapel, have maintained the original decoration from the 14th century.
Particularly noteworthy are the capitals, also in the exterior: many of them are characterized by rich decorations with leaves, mythological figures, scenes of war, as well as Biblical and Gospel scenes. The paintings, as revealed by a capital stripped of the 16th century gold painting, were originally polychrome.
Also in the interior, on the cupola ceiling, is the famous Assumption of the Virgin fresco by Correggio (1526-1530. In the right transept is the Deposition by Benedetto Antelami (1178).
Near the Cathedral lies the Baptistry of Parma.
