Piacenza is a small city in the northern Italian region of Emilio-Romagna, which has been a centre of strategic importance over the centuries. Now, it is home to a number of historic churches and an impressive palace, as well as hosting a major jazz festival every year in the spring.
The city's Palazzo Communale, known more commonly by its nickname Il Gotico, or “The Gothic”, is located in the centre of Piacenza, and dominates the Piazza Cavalli. Built in a style that is particular to this region of Italy, it is one of the best-preserved examples of this type of architecture, featuring medieval towers, Romanesque arches and with an interior that is decorated with frescoes and stained glass windows. These days it is used for meetings and conferences, but visitors can still enter the main foyer to admire this innovative building from within. The Piazza Cavailli, or horse square, itself is named for the two equestrian statues in the centre; the statues are of the 16th century Duke of Parma and his son.
The 17th century Palazzo Farnese was built on the banks of the River Po for the Duke of Parma. Today, while many of the architectural features still remain, the building is home to a number of different museums, covering a range of diverse subjects; so there is bound to be one that will appeal to any visitor! The two most popular are the paintings gallery and the archaeological museum. The first features a masterpiece by Sandro Botticelli, while the second is home to many Etruscan artefacts, including the famous bronze “Etruscan Liver” which may have been used for divination or in ritual ceremonies. Other museums in the Palazzo include ones dedicated to ancient weapons, coaches and the Risorgimento, the unification of Italy in the 19th century.
The annual jazz festival is a huge event, which takes over the city of Piacenza every spring. Visitors can enjoy the exclusive paid events, often featuring well-known jazz artists from across the world, or just attend free concerts or enjoy the street performances. The festival also holds master-classes for budding musicians, seminars and conferences, and the Palazzo Farnese dedicates one of its exhibition spaces to some aspect of jazz too. There are two competitions, rewarding new talent, which offer an impressive cash prize, attracting many of the top young artistes from across Italy and Europe.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Piacenza? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Piacenza and villas in Piacenza that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
