Palazzo Ducale, the Ducal Palace of Parma

Ottavio Farnese, the Duke of Parma and Piacenza chose Parma as capital city around the 16th century. He decided to make this building, originally a Visconti castle, into his residence. The gardens that surround the Palazzo Ducale were mainly to supply food, herbs fish and game. The gardens were transformed in 1749 into a classic French garden by Ennemond Alexandre Petitot, a French architect. Napoleon's wife, Marie Louise of Austria, later ordered restorations and remodelled the gardens into English gardens.