A Gothic Prison

I came across a fascinating Gothic church in Parma, which has a curious story. Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato, on the north side of the town was once one of the cities most important churches. Founded in 1240 by the Franciscan order, on the then outskirts of Parma, the church became popular with the most wealthy citizens of the city. It was completed in 1398, and marks a transition between Romanesque and Gothic, in its Italian form.

In 1804, with the arrival of Napoleon Bonaparte's troops, the monks were expelled and the church was turned into a prison. Arches were bricked up, internal floors were built and barred windows were cut into the outer walls.  The frescoes were painted over with uniformly grey paint.  

The monastic complex remained the city's prison until 1993. In 2018 restauration work was started, bringing some of the past splendour back to this church. In 2021 the church was reconsecrated. 

On the outside, you can see where the prison windows have been filled in with brickwork of a slightly different colour. On the inside, atmosphere is of a partial ruin, with fragments of frescoes on the columns and the scaffolding for the ongoing restauration work. 

Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato, Parma

Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato,

Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato,

Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato,

Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato,

Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato,

Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato,

Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato,

Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato,

Chiesa di San Francesco del Prato,

On one side of the church. we find the  chapel of the "Immacolata Concezione", added in 1472. It escaped the change of use of the main church, but by 1913 it too was abandoned and turned into a store. Much of the decoration dates from the eightieth century. 

Cappella dell'Immacolata Concezione, Parma

Cappella dell'Immacolata Concezione, Parma

The "Chiesa di Santa Cristina", on the main high street, looks pretty unpromising from the outside. Money ran out during its construction, and the bare brick facade was never decorated with marble. On the inside the Apse was not built. Trompe-l'œil was used to give the impression of an apse. The church dates from 1649, and is a triumph of colour. 

I first visited this church many years ago and the faded grey frescoes gave the place a sad atmosphere. I was there because I Engineered the scaffolding, that was installed for the restoration of the decoration. I visited some years ago for curiosity, and was stunned by the transformation. I finally returned to photograph it seriously on this visit to Parma.  

Chiesa di Santa Cristina, Parma

Chiesa di Santa Cristina, Parma

Chiesa di Santa Cristina, Parma

Chiesa di Santa Cristina, Parma

Chiesa di Santa Cristina, Parma

Chiesa di Santa Cristina, Parma