From Colorno’s Past to Present: Unraveling the Fascinating Story of this Enchanting Italian Village
Colorno’s history goes back hundreds of years, which is reflected in the almost messianic way its unique palace was built. It is called Palazzo Ducale, but the name is spelled with a feminine ending to make it sound more like the much more famous Palace of Versailles.
There’s no doubt that the transalpine sister has a special charm and a truly unique coat of arms, but Colorno’s luxurious palace has nothing to be jealous of, and the reason is there for anyone to admire it in photos, but even more so in person.
Let’s take a step back, though, because the Palazzo Ducale is in Colorno, but Colorno is still one of the most beautiful villages in Emilia-Romagna and not the Palazzo Ducale.
How Colorno came to be
The municipality is in the province of Parma, just 14 km from the capital. It is surrounded by the all-regional warmth of Emilia Romagna, whose history was mostly made in the Middle Ages, so much so that the story began around 1004 with the town, then a village, but even before that a fiefdom of the Bishop of Parma and later a strategic outpost sent by Parma to defend the surrounding territories, which it did very well considering how hard it was.
The battles and disagreements stopped when the Sanseverino family came to town in 1458. They are responsible for the beauty of the town today, which is full of architectural masterpieces like the Oratory of San Liborio, the Aranciaia, the stately residence, and the Longara, as well as many other places of interest that will be described in detail.
There were more wars and conflicts after this, but Colorno was already on its way to a bright future, and the Bourbons were a big part of that. They helped give everything a little bit of a push, including giving the city center a new look when it was occupied by Napoleon in 1807 and then by Maria Luigia of Austria.
The Ducal Palace of Colorno
Today, the town is a quiet place with about 9,000 people who are used to tourists coming from all over the world to walk through the narrow streets and end up at the Palazzo Ducale, which is the real and authentic attraction.
No one can blame the many fans who are willing to travel across Italy from the south or north to see a classic example of monumental architecture that stands out from the large French garden designed to show it off with honor and dignity. The Royal Palace has more than 400 rooms, courts, courtyards, the astronomical observatory, and the beautiful apartment of Duke Ferdinando.
A very interesting fabric that can be used for temporary exhibitions and cultural events. Some of these events take place near where the Duke and Duchess live, in places like the stupendous Sala Grande.
In short, a visit will give you a better idea of how grand a building is, since its rooms have 45 original pieces of furniture, paintings, tapestries, and other art that are all very expensive and beautiful.
The route goes across the Piano Nobile, which is where the Bourbons lived, and goes all the way up to the Chapel of San Liborio. The Historic Garden is free to get into, and every spring the “In the Sign of the Lily” flower show is set up there.
What to see in Colorno’s center
From “Little Versailles,” we flow back into the city center because, even if you don’t like mansions and castles, there must be room to give credit to other buildings, like the churches in the area, that are also important.
The Church of Santa Margherita is the cathedral and parish church of Colorno. The facade and apse show that the international Gothic style was popular in the 1600s. Inside the three naves, the wooden pulpit from the eighteenth century stands out. There are also many works of art that can’t be argued with, such as the painting “The Martyrdom of Santa Margherita” by Francesco del Cairo and the many decorative frescoes.
Then there is the Church of Santo Stefano, which is much more reserved and calm. There is also the Oratory of the Santissima Annunziata in Vedole, the Torre delle Acque (which once supplied water to the fountains in the Garden of the Reggia), the Venaria, the Corte di Sanguigna in the area with the same name, and the Oratory of Copermio.
Don’t forget the historic Aranciaia, which was built in the 18th century as a winter shelter for citrus plants in pots. Over the years, it has served as a riding track, a warehouse, the home of the Ethnographic Museum, and the permanent home of MUPAC, the Museum of Land and River Landscapes, which focuses on peasant, craft, and river life in the past.
Some tourists also come to Colorno to see the old psychiatric hospital, which was never able to house patients because it didn’t have the right facilities. It was closed and left empty.
The Doge’s Palace is also where the prestigious classes of ALMA are held. ALMA is an international school for high-end Italian cooking run by chef Gualtiero Marchesi.
When it comes to culinary art, tradition and good taste are emphasized by the many farmhouses and restaurants in the area. There, you can try the main dishes of Colorno and the Parma area, such as Tortél Dols, culatello, Parmigiano Reggiano, the famous Parma ham, and salame gentile.
Slow-living fans gather at the Reggia di Colorno in June for the Slowness Festival.
Directions to Colorno
If you’re driving from Parma, take the north ring road, get off at via San Leonardo, and then take the SS 343. If you’re taking the train, use the Parma-Colorno railway line. By bus, you can take the Parma-Colorno suburban line, and the airport to fly into is Parma.
