by Redazione 12/11/2026
Categories: Museums / Disclaimer
In 2027, the Province of Parma will begin work on the Colorno Royal Palace, guided by a new master plan for the palace and its park. The announcement was made before the directors of Versailles, Schönbrunn, and other European royal residences, who had gathered in Colorno.
The wall enclosing the park, the facade of the ducal chapel of San Liborio, and a comprehensive plan for the entire palace and its garden. These are the first steps in the redevelopment project that will transform the Reggia di Colorno (Parma) starting in 2027. “2027 will mark the start of the major renovation of the Colorno Royal Palace,” announced Alessandro Fadda, president of the Province of Parma, and Saba Giovannacci, the provincial councilor in charge of cultural heritage. The Province owns the entire complex and the ducal chapel, and the total cost of the project is nearly 6 million euros; work will begin early next year. The main funding comes from the Ministry of Culture, which has allocated 5 million euros. Added to this amount are 508,000 euros from the Province to repair the park’s perimeter wall and 290,000 euros for the façade of San Liborio, of which 240,000 come from the Region and 50,000 from the Province.
The projects follow a plan that outlines the future of the Reggia and the park. It was developed by a political steering committee and a technical-scientific working group, bringing together the Province, the Region, the University, the Pilotta Museum, the Cariparma Foundation, the Banca del Monte Foundation, and the municipalities of Colorno and Parma. “The Reggia is at the center of a major revitalization effort,” explain Fadda and Giovannacci, and the master plan is the result of this collaborative effort. “This joint effort,” they said, “has led to the development of a master plan that outlines the future of the Reggia and its park.” The plan has three objectives: to enhance the spaces, ensure conservative restoration, and support the museum project. At its core is, above all, the idea of fostering ever-greater dialogue among the various entities that coexist within the palace. In addition to the museum spaces, the Reggia is home to the Glauco Lombardi Municipal Library and the Alma International Culinary School.
The “master plan” has already been presented to some of the key leaders of European historic residences. The Province chose to announce the projects during the board meeting of European Royal Residences, the association of European royal residences, which convened right here in Colorno. The association includes more than one hundred palaces and museums in fifteen countries, attracting approximately fifty million visitors annually. The Royal Palace has been a member since 2023, and the decision to hold the meeting here was made last April by the general assembly at Venaria Reale. According to the Province, the presidents and directors welcomed the plan, which will be officially presented at the association’s next general assembly in Warsaw, during a session dedicated to new enhancement projects.
Present in the Minerva Hall of the Royal Palace were Klaus Panholzer, CEO of Schönbrunn and interim president of the association; Laurent Salomé, director of the Palace of Versailles; Tamás Ujváry, director of the Royal Palace of Gödöllő in Hungary; Ana de la Cueva, president of Spain’s Patrimonio Nacional; John Barnes, chief executive of Historic Royal Palaces in the United Kingdom; Michele Briamonte, president of the Consortium of the Royal Residences of the House of Savoy; Anne Mény-Horn, general administrator of the Château de Fontainebleau; and Marianna Otmianowska, director of the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw.
Versailles holds special significance for Colorno. “The layout of the Colorno Royal Palace is very French; it’s reminiscent of Versailles. Many of the objects now on display at Versailles actually come from Colorno,” Salomé observed after the visit. The director recalled the origins of this connection: “Here, the marriage between Louise Élisabeth of Bourbon-France—known as Babette, daughter of King Louis XV of France—and Infante Philip of Spain led to a meeting of French, Spanish, and Italian cultures that created an extraordinary Baroque setting.” He added: “Colorno is very poetic.” According to Salomé, the visit allowed her “to feel the authenticity of these places and also to imagine the life of Duchess Marie Louise, especially on a day with such wonderful light.” Panholzer also emphasized the value of the gathering: “For many of us, it was our very first time in Colorno, and we are very happy to have held one of our two annual meetings here. Being part of the European Royal Residences network is a great opportunity to network and share best practices in promoting these sites and welcoming visitors.”
The meeting was organized by Michela Canova, head of historical and artistic heritage development projects for the Province of Parma. Guests were welcomed in the Throne Room. This was followed by two working sessions, a guest lunch at Alma, a tour of the school classrooms led by Candida D’Elia, head of external relations, and Giacomo Bullo, head of communications, and a tour of the main floor. In the evening, the delegation was received at the Pilotta by the director of the monumental complex, Denis Ton. They then went to the Teatro Regio, where they were greeted by Superintendent Luciano Messi for a dinner in the Sala delle Scenografie with members of the technical committee overseeing the Reggia project. The dinner was sponsored by the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, represented by destination manager Cristiano Casa. The following day, the guests visited the Montecoppe cheese factory in Collecchio, where they tasted wheels aged 12, 24, 60, and 100 months.
For the Province, these three days also serve to build relationships for the future. “The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium was able to engage with representatives from the world’s most prominent museums, which, in the future, could be ideal partners with whom to develop promotional campaigns,” explained Fadda, “while the Teatro Regio had the opportunity to connect with other world-class theater institutions housed in royal residences, where prestigious concert seasons are organized.” Casa emphasized the connection to the local area: “Parmigiano Reggiano is part of this region: it has its roots here, just as the Reggia di Colorno has its roots here, and it is now engaging with royal residences across Europe.”
In 2027, in addition to the start of construction, a new international event is planned. In October, the Reggia will host the technical meeting of the European Royal Residences dedicated to “Hospitality and Catering in European Royal Residences.” As Canova explains, the discussion will focus on the management of communal spaces and hospitality, with a significant emphasis on museum dining, with the goal of developing a comprehensive tourism offering.
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| Colorno Royal Palace to Undergo Renovation in 2027: A Plan Totaling Nearly 6 Million |
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