Piazza Garibaldi

Piazza Garibaldi is the center of Parma’s civil and political life. 
The piazza was built on an ancient Roman Forum.

In 1221, Torello da Strada, the first Podesta of Parma, built the first city palace.
The piazza was once home to an incredible tower, which crumbled to the ground, together with the City Palace, on January 17, 1606.

The current, unfinished city Palace was built between 1627 and 1673 on the ruins.
Giambattista Magnani was responsible for the project. The piazza underwent an important transformation during the 18th century. The court architect, Ennemond Alexandre Petitot, gave the piazza a uniform and balanced look.

It wasn’t until two centuries later that the city began restoring the peeling plaster in the ancient medieval palaces and reconstructing the buildings destroyed in the war. 
This facelift revived the image of the piazza, together with the Palazzo del Governatore, the clock tower, St. Peter’s church and the old Notary’s building.