The Church of St. John the Evangelist

The church of St John the Evangelist is located behind the apse of the Duomo.

It is a Renaissance building, constructed between 1498 and 1510, by the Benedictine monks.  The Baroque façade was completed in 1607 and the bell tower, built around the same time, is the tallest in the city.  Inside the meticulously constructed church, you can admire another famous dome.

Correggio painted his first series of frescos here between 1520 and 1521.  He created a monochromatic frieze that represents the vision of St John at Patmos, with arriving to greet the apostles. 
Correggio also painted the lunette in the northern transept with a depiction of Saint John the Baptist and the eagle. 

Parmigianino’s frescos line the inside of the arches of the first two chapels. Other parts of the church worth visiting are the sacristy, which contains a large cupboard full of relics; the splendid Renaissance cloisters of the convent; the monastical library decorated with hand-painted maps and allegorical figures and the ancient apothecary’s shop.

This fascinating pharmacy was open from 1201 until the end of the 19th century and has beautiful 17th century inlaid shelving, medical apparatus, mortars and vases. There is also equipment from the medical laboratory and portraits of Parma’s most notable names in medicine and pharmacology.

Walking along the east side of the Duomo and the piazza, you will encounter the charming medieval street, from which you can see Cadalo’s Tower in the distance. 

Nowadays, the Tower is surrounded by the Bishop’s Palace and located near the Saint Paul’s monetary.

Next to the façade of the church of San Lodovico, you will find a separate 13th century chapel at the base of the ancient bell tower. Here, there is an interesting doorway leading to the Stuard picture-gallery.