Ducal Palace of Colorno

Ducal Palace of Colorno
Palazzo ducale di Colorno
Façade of the Ducal Palace of Colorno.
Alternative names	Reggia di Colorno
General information
Type	Palace
Architectural style	Italian Baroque
Location	Colorno province of Parma, Italy
Client	Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma
Technical details
Floor count	3
Design and construction
Architect	Ferdinando Galli-Bibiena Ennemond Alexandre Petitot
Invalid designation
Official name	Reggia di Colorno
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Monument
State Party	Italy

The Ducal Palace, also known as Reggia di Colorno, is an edifice in the territory of Colorno (province of Parma), Emilia Romagna, Italy. It was built by Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma in the early 18th century on the remains of a former castle.

A Rocca (castle) was built on the site by Azzo da Correggio as a defence of the Po River. It belonged to the Correggio and Terzi families, and in the 16th-17th centuries it was restored by countess Barbara Sanseverino, who desired a true palace for her court, and to house her prestigious collection of works by painters such as Raphael, Titian, Mantegna and Correggio.

After the beheading of Barbara Sanseverino by the Duke Ranuccio Farnese, the palace was acquired by the Farnese of Parma. Ranuccio II and his wife Margherita Violante began a complete reconstruction that was completed under their son Francesco, directed by architect Ferdinando Bibbiena.

The palace was the home of the defunct Enrichetta d'Este, widow of Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma.

In the 18th century, Duke Philip commissioned its restoration by the French architect Ennemond Alexandre Petitot, and tried to emulate in the interior the decor of the Palace of Versailles. Philip was married to Princess Louise Élisabeth of France, who was the eldest daughter of Louis XV of France.