Inside the Teatro Farnese: what to see

What do you see when you walk into the Teatro Farnese?

The cavea: a long open floor wrapped in a steep U of 14 wooden tiers, which held about 3,000 spectators, under a timber roof.

The floor between the tiers was not for seats. It was the stage for dances, tournaments and, at the 1628 opening, a flooded sea battle. Walk out into the middle and look along the tiers: this is where the court sat to watch.

What are the arcades above the tiers?

Two orders of serliana arcades, arches flanked by narrow openings, that crown the tiers all the way round, with statues in the niches between them.

They were built of wood and stucco and painted to look like marble, and they turned a plain armoury hall into a classical amphitheatre. Most of that paint was lost after 1944, and the rebuilt arcades are largely bare wood today, so the illustration below shows how they were meant to look.

Who are the statues in the Teatro Farnese?

The two horsemen beside the proscenium are Dukes Alessandro and Ottavio Farnese. The niches of the arcades once held statues of gods, made of plaster on a core of straw; some were lost in the 1944 bombing.

Italian Wikipedia credits the sculpture to a team led by Luca Reti. Local press report that some niches now stand empty, and that surviving fragments, casts and original wooden reliefs are kept by the museum. The equestrian dukes make sure every guest remembers whose house this is; for who they were, read the Farnese dukes of Parma.

What is special about the proscenium and the stage?

The theatre is often called one of the first with a permanent proscenium arch, the frame that makes the stage a picture. Behind its opening of about 12 m, the stage runs about 40 m deep.

That depth gave room for scenery and stage machinery. Walk right up to the arch, then turn round: from the stage end, the tiers, arcades and statues read as one design. This is the photo everyone wants.

Where does the visit go after the theatre?

Into the Galleria Nazionale: the theatre is the way into the gallery, so one ticket takes you from the wooden tiers to Leonardo, Parmigianino and Correggio.

Highlights include Leonardo's La Scapigliata, an unfinished head of a young woman of about 1508; Parmigianino's Schiava turca of about 1533; several works by Correggio; and Canova's statue of Maria Luigia. Two Correggio-related works are on loan to an exhibition in Dresden from 8 September 2026 to 10 January 2027. From 17 October 2026 to 17 January 2027 the Pilotta shows 'Giorgio Gandini del Grano', the first exhibition on this follower of Correggio. The North Halls open at 10:30.

One private morning for the theatre, the Galleria's masterpieces and Correggio's domes in town, every ticket included.

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Can you take photos in the Teatro Farnese?

Yes: personal photos and videos without flash or tripod are allowed. Professional photography needs permission from the museum.

• The classic view: from the stage end, looking back at the tiers.
• The detail: the two equestrian dukes beside the arch and the carving on the arcades.
• The light: weekday mornings are quieter, and afternoons get busier.
• The scale: put a person on the floor of the cavea to show how big the hall is.
• Wide lens: the hall is long and deep, so a phone's wide mode helps.

How long do you need inside?

About 30 to 45 minutes for the theatre, and about 3 hours for the whole route through the Pilotta, according to the museum; visitors report 2 to 4 hours.

A plan for a first visit, with times from the museum and the tour listings:

Is the Teatro Farnese accessible?

Yes, with help: the museum says the theatre, the Galleria, the archaeological museum and the Palatina can be reached by lifts, platforms and stair-lifts, with assistance from staff.

Small bags are allowed; large backpacks go in free lockers at the ticket office. There is a small refreshment area with vending machines behind the theatre's stage. Visitors report that English labels are thin on many works, so read up or bring a guide. Hours and prices are in our tickets and hours guide.

Frequently asked questions