The Paganini Auditorium

The Paganini Auditorium is named after a great musician from Genoa (1782–1840) who had a home in Parma and is buried in Parma’s Viletta cemetery.

The Auditorium was built, based on the design of famed architect, Renzo Piano, inside a historic sugar factory Zuccherificio Eridania. The sugar plant was completed in 1899, after just one year of construction, on 25 acres of land outside of the city walls. The new zuccherificio was based on a model of German factories and remained in operation until 1968.

The area occupied by the sugar factory was purchased by the City of Parma and was converted into a large public park, thanks in part to a contribution by Barilla.

In addition to the Auditorium, the former factory is home to a conference center, rehearsal rooms, and other buildings. The large tubs that were once used for washing the sugar beets have been converted into fountains and an aquatic garden.

The Auditorium has 780 seats, a beautiful foyer, bar, coatroom, dressing rooms and sophisticated technological and acoustic equipment.

The Paganini Auditorium was inaugurated on November 15, 2001 with a memorable concert directed by Riccardo Muti.