Parma - Palazzo della Pilotta

From the Piazza del Duomo the Strada al Duomo and Strada Pisacane lead west to the Piazzale Marconi, which was much enlarged after the Second World War. On the west side of this square is the Palazzo della Pilotta (Pilotta palace), a huge brick building begun in 1583 but left unfinished, which has a fine courtyard. It derives its name from the fact that a ball-game like the Basque game of "pelota" used to be played in the three inner courtyards.