The Church of Santa Maria della Steccata has been the official seat of the knights of the Constantinian Order of Saint George since 1718. This glorious order traces its ancient origins to the militia that Emperor Constantine created to defend the labarum bearing the cross after his victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge (312). From the imposing building, which houses the work of Parmigianino “The Wise and Foolish Virgins,” visitors can access other rooms hosting the Constantinian Museum. The visit route allows you to admire the Burial Vault of the Bourbon and Farnese Dukes, commissioned by Maria Luigia in 1823; the Noble Sacristy, a 17th-century masterpiece of cabinetry preserving precious silverware and exceptionally embroidered sacred vestments; the picture gallery rich with paintings dating from the 16th to 18th centuries; and a room dedicated to objects and memorabilia belonging to the Bourbon and Farnese families featuring various rarities: from sketches for the uniforms of the Constantinian Knights, to the shirt worn by Louis XVI at the scaffold, as well as coats of arms, watercolors, decorations, and historical memories.
Information on the Museum of the Constantinian Order of Saint George
Piazza della Steccata,
43121 Parma (Parma)
0521 282 854,0521 234 937
Source: MIBACT
