One of the most riche and flourishing cities of the Middle Ages, as evidenced by the numerous palaces and churches in the historic center: the Palazzo Gotico in the famous Piazza Cavalli , the Cathedral and the church of Sant’Antonino. Piacenza was the first capital of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza and later became the second city of the Farnese state. The colossal Palazzo Farnese designed by Vignola , now home to the Civic Museums, dates back to the second half of the 16th century, whose collections ranging from archeology to the Risorgimento deserve an in-depth visit .

Strolling through the small town center can take you along part of the ancient Farnese bastions and to visit the church of San Sisto, for which Raphael painted the famous Sistine Madonna (now in Dresden), which preserves the tomb of Margaret of Austria, the natural daughter of Charles V and mother of the leader Alessandro Farnese.