The Farnese theatre is a stunning wooden theatre built by Giovanni Battista Aleotti between 1616 and 1618.
It is housed in the southern wind of the Palazzo della Pilotta. The theatre replaced the sala d’armi (weaponry room) and was built for a purpose.. or better for a man. This man was Cosimo II de' Medici, who was meant o stop in Parma on his pilgrimage to the tomb of San Carlo Borromeo.
The duke Ranuccio I Farnese decided to build a theatre for this occasion and to offer him a special show. However, this did not happen, and the theatre was inaugurated only in 1628, when Margherita de' Medici married the duke Odoardo Farnese.
The peculiarity of this theatre is the fact that here were installed the first-ever revolving stages in an Italian theatre. Entrance is € 2,00 and the theatre is open every day friom 9.00 top 14.00. Photography is not allowed.