The city that gave birth, in the 16th century, to Parmigianino, one of the leading exponents of the Italian Mannerist movement, and after him, in the 19th century, to the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini, then to the painter Giovanni Bolla and to illustrious writers, directors and clergymen, dear to Giuseppe Verdi, the greatest Italian composer, will be next year's “Capital of Culture”.
To understand what kind of year awaits us in Parma, one need only visit the website www.parma2020.it, where the mayor sets out the common thread linking the rich calendar of events: “We will build spaces and times for encounter and dialogue,” he states, “recognising the multicultural richness of our history and, through it, transforming our view of the present. Our task will be to spark culture in the neighbourhoods, to create thought and wellbeing together with all the institutions and associations of the city.” The aim is also to “make the tourism and cultural system accessible, through a set of services and technological tools that bring together the enhancement of resources,” and to work so that Parma becomes “a place of stable dialogue on the pairing of Culture and Democracy, on the civic and constitutional values that underpin the development of an open, inclusive and innovative community.”
Official website: www.parma2020.it
