The Reggia di Colorno is a splendid Imperial Palace that draws inspiration from the rooms of the Palace of Versailles. The most important room is undoubtedly the Great Hall, a masterpiece by the famous French architect Ennemond Alexandre Petitot designed in 1753. The room represents the first example of neoclassicism in Europe, almost 30 years ahead of its contemporary creations. The drawing genius of Petitot found perfect realization in the stuccos executed by Fortunato Rusca and the great sculptor JB Boudard for the figures in high relief. Inside the gilded stucco frames there are still the four original canvases (from 1757-58) by François La Croix and Adrien Manglard. Also significant on the Noble Floor are the two Chinese sitting rooms of Babette and Don Filippo di Borbone from 1753 with Italian wallpapers. Most of the rooms on the Noble Floor feature refined Rococo stuccoes by Carlo Bossi to a design by the architect François Antoine Carlier. Today the Reggia di Colorno is also the headquarters of ALMA, an Italian Cooking School which (once chaired by Gualtiero Marchesi) offers specialized training to hundreds of young chefs from all over the world.