An ultra-dark church even by Italian standards, Piacenza’s cold, dungeonlike cathedral is classic Romanesque. If you can strain your eyes hard enough, you'll make out the two-dozen pillars that hold up the roof and the heavenly frescoes by Morazzone and Guercino that adorn it. One of a trio of classic Romanesque cathedrals in Emilia, it rose (like Parma’s) from the ruins of the devastating 1117 earthquake.
Duomo
Piacenza
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
25.79 MILES
The opening of the world's largest maze in 2015 fulfilled a lifetime dream of art publisher Franco Maria Ricci, who once published what many considered to…
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16.88 MILES
Cremona’s history echoes to sound of violins and violin-making, meaning a visit to this relatively new, state-of-the-art museum is practically obligatory…
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17.51 MILES
This stately theatre on Busseto's aptly named Piazza Verdi was built in 1868, although Verdi himself initially pooh-poohed the idea. It opened with a…
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17.03 MILES
Welcome to an ecclesial colossus. Cremona’s cathedral started out as a Romanesque basilica, but the simplicity of that style later gave way to an…
20.86 MILES
On the north bank of the Adda river, a short stroll from the centre, this ambitious art installation blends the natural world with the religious in…
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17.03 MILES
Cremona's 111m-tall torrazzo (bell tower, although 'torrazzo' translates literally as ‘great, fat tower’) is the third tallest brick bell tower in the…
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Università degli Studi di Pavia
28.04 MILES
The University of Pavia was established in 1361 by Galeazzo II Visconti, although there had been a school of divinity here as early as 825. The oldest…
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Museo per la Storia dell'Università di Pavia
28.09 MILES
Pavia's venerable university is one of the oldest in Europe and is still a thriving seat of learning. Architects Piermarini (author of La Scala) and…
Nearby Piacenza attractions
0.26 MILES
Dominated by Palazzo Gotico, the impressive 13th-century town hall, Piacenza's main square is named after its two baroque equestrian statues, cast by the…
2. Ricci Oddi Galleria d'Arte Moderna
0.29 MILES
Piacenza’s hidden secret is this modern art collection amassed by local aficionado Ricci Oddi in the early 20th century. Well lit and cleverly laid out…
0.36 MILES
On the northern edge of the centro storico (historic centre), this vast palace was started in 1558 but never fully completed. It now houses Piacenza's…
4. Fortifcazioni di Pizzighettone
10.36 MILES
Pizzighettone's big attraction is its well-preserved rampart wall, which still encircles its small historic centre. The walls were designed in the 12th…
16.8 MILES
Once inside the 14th-century Chiesa di Sant'Agostino, head for the third chapel on the right, the Cappella Cavalcabò, which features a stunning late…
16.87 MILES
Verdi's 56-room villa, where he composed many of his major works, is 5km northwest of Busseto. Verdi lived and worked here from 1851 onwards and literally…
16.88 MILES
Cremona’s history echoes to sound of violins and violin-making, meaning a visit to this relatively new, state-of-the-art museum is practically obligatory…
16.96 MILES
Set in the spacious halls of the Palazzo Affaitati, Cremona's finest art gallery houses an exquisite collection of paintings dating from the 15th to the…