Parma & its enterprises

Historical Background

The rise of the Farnese family saw a consolidation of state power bringing about a more unified control of public works and of the economy. This relegated some major feudal families such as the Pallavicino, Rossi, Terzi, Torelli, Sanvitale, Soragna, Landi and others who previously had made major contributions to the history of the region, in the background. A number of major landmarks bear witness to Parma’s role as the capital of the Duchy – the “Zecca” (formerly the Ducal Mint, today the “Casa della Musica” arts center), the “Pilotta” palace, the “Cittadella” (fortress), the “Old Hospital” and the ducal residence in Sala Baganza. This can also be seen in the “Collegio dei Nobili” which, together with the University, acted as an international study center for the education of a ruling class in the courts and states of Europe. The Duchy died out in the first decade of the 1700s and was given over to the Bourbons with the support of the king of France. The Duchy’s Francophile politics gave rise to the magnificent century of the 1700s characterized by industriousness, state control and far-reaching economic policies (Du Tillot, the summer palace at Colorno, expansion of libraries, glassworks, paper mills, weaving mills, printing with Bodoni, the Gazzetta newspaper, furniture makers, lacquerers, leatherworkers, etc.).

Parma - The Teatro Regio

Parma - Palazzo Soragna, seat of Parma Manufacturers’ Association

Colorno - Ducal Palace

Torrechiara - The Castle

6 6