Parma: The Baptistery

The beautiful Baptistery of Parma occupies the south side of the Piazza del Duomo. The building, clad in pink marble from Verona, is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The lower part has the well-known Romanesque rounded arches and Romanesque sculptures, but higher up these rounded arches have already…

Continue reading

Parma: The Duomo

The cathedral of Parma is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Santa Maria Assunta in Italian. It is an impressive building on the east side of the Piazza del Duomo, with the Baptistery and the episcopal palace housing the museum of the diocese (Museo Diocesano) on the south…

Continue reading

Vicenza: Teatro Olimpico

Vicenza’s Teatro Olimpico can be counted among the most famous creations of the architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580). Palladio designed the theatre, but died before it could be completed. It is therefore only fair to see the theatre as a work by his student Vincenzo Scamozzi (1548-1616) as well. Scamozzi not…

Continue reading

Rome: San Giovanni dei Fiorentini

Johannes de Doper is de beschermheilige van Florence. Toen de Florentijnse gemeenschap in Rome begin zestiende eeuw besloot een grote nieuwe kerk te laten bouwen, was het dan ook vanzelfsprekend dat deze aan Johannes zou worden gewijd. De San Giovanni dei Fiorentini staat op een opvallende plaats dicht bij een…

Continue reading