Palazzo Smeraldi

The Palazzo Cusani in Parma is a Renaissance building from the second half of the 15th century that now serves as the Casa della Musica. Originally owned by the Milanese noble family Cusani, the building was handed over to the university in the 17th century and for a long time housed the faculties of medicine and law. It later served as a mint and criminal court, before undergoing extensive restoration after World War II and a severe earthquake in 1983. Since 2002, the palace, with its square floor plan and elegant arcaded courtyard, has housed concert halls, educational rooms, and a library. Here you can experience a blend of historic architecture and modern musical culture. Particularly worth seeing are the frescoes in the courtyard, which depict allegorical scenes and coats of arms, as well as the ancient Hercules monument, which has been returned to the building. The facade, with its tall windows and plastered cornice, frames the building stylishly, while the interior rooms reflect the traces of its varied history of use.