Paradigna
Paradigna: a fraction of Parma waiting to be discovered!
If you're looking for a quiet and characteristic location near Parma, you can't miss a visit to Paradigna, a small fraction of the municipality of Parma, belonging to the Cortile San Martino district.
Physical geography
The fraction is located on a flat terrain at an altitude of 43 meters above sea level, on the northern outskirts of the city, on the left bank of the Naviglio canal. The location is ideal for enjoying a pleasant walk through the countryside and admiring the surrounding landscape.
History
The territory of Paradigna was inhabited since Roman times, as evidenced by the Centuriazione, still visible today in the straight route of via Paradigna. Later, in 962, Emperor Otto I recognized the authority of the bishop of Parma over this area too. In the Middle Ages, a Church of Sant'Andrea was built, mentioned for the first time in 1230. In the XIII century, the area of San Martino de' Bocci, where a parish church stood, was chosen by Cardinal Gerardo Bianchi as the site of the future abbey of Valserena, built starting from 1298 by Cistercian monks, who took care of the reclamation of the area by channeling the waters.
In 1420, Paradigna was plundered by the men of Niccolò Guerriero, Guido Torelli, and Cecco da Montagnana, in an attempt to return Parma to the Duke of Milan, Filippo Maria Visconti. In the Napoleonic era, Paradigna became a fraction of the new municipality of Cortile San Martino, which in 1943 was incorporated into the city of Parma.
Monuments and places of interest
Church of Sant'Andrea
Mentioned for the first time in 1230, the church was renovated in neoclassical forms in the XVIII century and restored around 1960. The place of worship, flanked by a semi-circular chapel on each side, is internally decorated with Doric order pilasters and paintings on the vaults. A visit to the Church of Sant'Andrea is a must on your tour of Paradigna.
Abbey of Valserena and Center for Communication Studies and Archives
The abbey of Valserena, built starting from 1298 next to an early Middle Ages parish church demolished at the beginning of the XIV century, was flanked by a large gothic church around 1324 and expanded several times since the XV century. In the XVII and XVIII century, it was modified in baroque forms, with the construction of new wings of the monastery and the monumental façade of the place of worship, and the decoration of one of the chapels. Suppressed in 1810 by Napoleon's decree, it was transformed into a canning industry and later into an agricultural company. Acquired by the State between 1967 and 1984 and granted free use to the University of Parma, the abbey was completely renovated and chosen in 2004 as the seat of the Center for Communication Studies and Archives. Open to the public in 2015, it offers a glimpse of the history of communication and its evolution over the centuries.
At the end of the XIII century, the area of San Martino de' Bocci, where a parish church stood, was chosen by Cardinal Gerardo Bianchi as the site of the future abbey of Valserena, built starting from 1298; the Cistercian monks, with the help of the Converso, took care of the reclamation of the area, hitherto occupied by "bocci," meaning thorny shrubs and brambles; thanks also to the channeling of the waters, a vast territory was made cultivable.
Conclusions
Visit Paradigna and discover its ancient history and artistic and cultural treasures. A walk through the countryside, a visit to the Church of Sant'Andrea, and a tour of the Abbey of Valserena, with its Center for Communication Studies and Archives, will make your visit unforgettable. Paradigna is a pearl in the vicinity of Parma, waiting to be discovered! Finish your visit by tasting typical dishes of Parma's cuisine, accompanied by a good glass of local wine. Enjoy your visit!
