A first mention of the building dedicated to St. Vitale dates to 9th century and the tradition says that it was founded by King Pipino of France.
In 1651 it was demolished to rebuild a greater church, whose present shape is the Latin cross with only one nave ending in a large presbytery surmounted by a dome in the style of Vignola. The ten chapels are divided by pillars by architect Cristoforo Rangoni, also known as Ficarelli. 
The elegant façade by sculptor Felice Pascetti can boast six statues attributed to Pietro Sbravati while in the interior, the urn under the main altar preserves St. Vitale's body, brought in 1648 from Rome by Gherardo III of Sissa. 
The decorations in the presbytery, dating to 1760 are by Antonio Betti, born in Reggio-Emilia, while those showing episodes of St. Vitale is life were painted the Giuseppe Peroni in 1763. 
Noteworthy are the Baroque stuccowork furnishings, the only example in Parma and in the Emilia region as well as the chapel dedicated to the Holy Virgin of Constantinople or the Virgin of Deliverance,  decorated in 1669 by Leonardo and Domenico Reti.