I arrive in Piacenza on a Sunday, and the streets are empty. As it’s the time of Ferragosto, everyone is at the beach. I have a very eerie feeling that I am the only person in the entire town.
The impressive Piazza dei Cavalli stands empty.
Across the way the Palazzo del Governatore also looks abandoned.
I decide to visit the Musei Civici di Palazzo Farnese as it is the only visitor site open in town. The ancient fortress and palace houses a number of museums, including an armory museum and an archaeological museum.
The enormous palace remains unfinished.
This fragment of velvet with metal fastenings protected battlers under their metal armor.
The civic museum’s treasure is a Botticelli.
I visit the Risorgimento Museum and see some more red shirts, along with this statue of Garibaldi.
The carriage museum is an absolute highlight. Housed on the ground floor of the palace, it displays room after room of antique carriages, such as this hearse.
Each carriage is in pristine condition. Carriages of all kinds seem ready to ride, lacking only the horses.
The next day I think I might visit the Basilica of St. Antoninus.
But it is closed, as is most everything else in town.
I find the cathedral open.
A priest actually attends in his confessional despite the muggy heat. As sweat drips down my back, I wonder how he can stand the humidity in the small box, especially since no one except the cathedral attendant is knocking at his door.
Next to the Cathedral is the Palazzo Vescovile, a beautiful building with a small park in front. What might the kids from Piacenza be doing on the bench?
I treat myself to a relaxing moment on the piazza for a lemon granita and am surprised to see that it does not instantly melt in the intense heat.
I’m off for Cremona tomorrow.