The old Town Hall of Piacenza was built in 13C and is a magnificent example of Gothic Lombardy architecture. This enormous building links austerity and harmony. Its lower parts of marble and the brick dressing of the upper storeys are in contrast to ..

This is a remarkable example of Romanesque Lombardy style. Its facade has a rose window and three notable doorways preceded by a portico which hides an interior in the form of a Latin cross. It is very simple but enriched by the grandiose frescoes..

Three things make the visit worthwhile; a sumptuous cycle of frescoes painted by S. Ricci and G. Draghi, The Splendours of the Farnese , detailing the exploits of the mercenary general Alessandro Farnese and of Pope Paul III; a bronze Etruscan divi..

The enormous, Gotico building and the facade of St Francis Church dominate this square, the traditional centre of politics and business in Piacenza. It is an attractive specimen of Franciscan Gothic architecture, and owes its name to two Baroque ..

This notable church in the form of a Greek Cross is, like St Sextus, the work of Alessio Tramello who was inspired here by Bramante. It is one of the most important ensembles of the Italian Renaissance. Inside there are splendid frescoes by Porden..

This impressive construction was designed at the end of the Renaissance by Vignole and left unfinished. It contains the municipal museums (which must be visited), the motor museum and the museum of the Risorgimento.

This is the old Paleo-Christian cathedral of the town. It was rebuilt in the11C and is notable for its octagonal tower 40 metres high, its skylights and its Gothic north vestibule known as the Paradise (1350).

This 12 C church has architectural lines of great purity. It has remarkable capitals and superb pavement mosaics in the chancel as well as in the crypt.

This is a collection of Italian paintings from the Romantic period to the 20C; there are works by the landscape artist Antonio Fontanesi , impressionist-influenced painters such as Boldoni , orientalist and contemporary figurative paintings (De Pis..

This 16C church (for which Raphael created his Virgin of St Sextus which is replaced by a copy today) was built by the local architect Alessio Tramello. It has curious architectural features. Its facade has a doorway from 1622 which leads into an atr..

This Gallery is set up in a college founded by Alberoni, cardinal of Piacenza and first Minister of the King of Spain Philip V. It brings together Flemish and Italian tapestries from the 16 and 17 C, and a fine collection of Italian paintings includi..