Parma
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 8 January 2022
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The city of Parma is the capital city of the Province of Parma with a population of 196,518 inhabitants.
Standing at an elevation of 55 metres above sea level, it covers a total area of 260 km² and lies 100 kilometres north west of Bologna, the regional capital of Emilia Romagna. An historical city founded in 183 BC by the Romans, Parma is famous not only for its sights, but for its food. Parma's cultural heritage was highlighted by its Italian City of Culture 2020 listing. |
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Some places are known for a specialist type of food that they produce but Parma can boast two of Italy's favourites which are eaten the world over. The first is the unmistakable Parmigiano Reggiano which is used in a number of ways but particularly popular when grated on pasta or soups. Then there's Parma Ham (Prosciutto di Parma), a delicious cured ham used for sandwiches and lots of other dishes including Prosciutto e Melone. When ordering prosciutto from a deli counter in Italy, you are usually asked whether you'd prefer crudo o cotto (raw or cooked). The Parma ham is the crudo while the cotto is the pinker, cooked variety.
If you come to Parma just to enjoy the gastronomy, as many people do, you will not be disappointed as the city is full of great restaurants but its two thousand year history has also left a legacy of impressive sights. In order to capture the very best of Parma on foot, a good starting point is Piazzale San Giovanni; here you'll find the Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista, one of the most impressive churches in the city and just a short walk from the Antica Farmacia San Giovanni, a fascinating 13th century pharmacy.
Just a few paces on from the pharmacy brings you to the city's most famous sight: Parma Cathedral. The beautiful 11th century cathedral is flanked by the 12th century Parma Baptistery on Piazza del Duomo while across the square in the corner lies the Museo Diocesano.
A five minute walk (450 metres) west from Piazza del Duomo brings you to the Palazzo della Pilotta complex. Fronted by the gardens of Piazza della Pace, the huge palazzo is home to a variety of museums including: the National Archaeological Museum of Parma, the National Gallery of Parma and the Biblioteca Palatina library.
Parma was built either side of a river that bears its same name; from the Palazzo della Pilotta you can cross the bridge over the River Parma to another expansive area, that of the Parco Ducale. The gardens of the park are free to enter and you can also visit the Palazzo Ducale (€3 for adults) to enjoy its Baroque interior and frescoes.
Back across the river you can head towards the city centre and along the way you'll pass the Teatro Regio where it's possible to enjoy the opera, while just across the road from the theatre is another of Parma's famous churches: the Basilica di Santa Maria della Steccata.
From the piazza outside the basilica you can pass through a walk way to what most people consider to be the centre of Parma: Piazza Garibaldi. From here you can explore the tight knot of narrow streets and start to discover Parma's delicious gastronomic delights in its bars and restaurants. This is also the best place to satisfy any shopping needs you may have with an extensive range of stores and boutiques.
Parma's train station is situated to the north of the city centre, one and a half kilometres from Piazza Garibaldi, a walk of around 20 minutes. There are also buses which take 3 or 4 minutes; any of the 1, 9, 12, 13, 2120 or 2270 will get you from the station to the city centre. The eastbound train from Parma to Bologna takes 58 minutes and stops along the way in Reggio Emilia (17 mins) and Modena (31 mins). Heading north west you can reach Milan in one hour 27 minutes, stopping first in Fidenza (11 minutes) and Piacenza (35 mins).
By car from Parma you can reach Bologna in 1 hour 9 minutes (100 km) or the fellow provincial capitals as follows: Reggio Emilia - 41 mins (27 km), Modena - 57 mins (64 km), Piacenza - 57 mins (69 km), Ferrara- 1 hour 32 mins (143 km), Forlì - 1 hour 46 mins (173 km), Ravenna - 1 hour 50 mins (180 km), Cesena - 1 hour 51 minutes (189 km) and Rimini - 2 hours 10 minutes (218 km).
Although Parma does have its own airport, the number of destinations it connects to are few. With its central location, a number of alternative airports work well for visiting Parma: Bologna Airport is a car journey of 57 minutes (93 km), Milan Linate Airport an hour and 16 minutes (126 km) or Verona Airport an hour and 24 minutes (110 km).
If you come to Parma just to enjoy the gastronomy, as many people do, you will not be disappointed as the city is full of great restaurants but its two thousand year history has also left a legacy of impressive sights. In order to capture the very best of Parma on foot, a good starting point is Piazzale San Giovanni; here you'll find the Chiesa di San Giovanni Evangelista, one of the most impressive churches in the city and just a short walk from the Antica Farmacia San Giovanni, a fascinating 13th century pharmacy.
Just a few paces on from the pharmacy brings you to the city's most famous sight: Parma Cathedral. The beautiful 11th century cathedral is flanked by the 12th century Parma Baptistery on Piazza del Duomo while across the square in the corner lies the Museo Diocesano.
A five minute walk (450 metres) west from Piazza del Duomo brings you to the Palazzo della Pilotta complex. Fronted by the gardens of Piazza della Pace, the huge palazzo is home to a variety of museums including: the National Archaeological Museum of Parma, the National Gallery of Parma and the Biblioteca Palatina library.
Parma was built either side of a river that bears its same name; from the Palazzo della Pilotta you can cross the bridge over the River Parma to another expansive area, that of the Parco Ducale. The gardens of the park are free to enter and you can also visit the Palazzo Ducale (€3 for adults) to enjoy its Baroque interior and frescoes.
Back across the river you can head towards the city centre and along the way you'll pass the Teatro Regio where it's possible to enjoy the opera, while just across the road from the theatre is another of Parma's famous churches: the Basilica di Santa Maria della Steccata.
From the piazza outside the basilica you can pass through a walk way to what most people consider to be the centre of Parma: Piazza Garibaldi. From here you can explore the tight knot of narrow streets and start to discover Parma's delicious gastronomic delights in its bars and restaurants. This is also the best place to satisfy any shopping needs you may have with an extensive range of stores and boutiques.
Parma's train station is situated to the north of the city centre, one and a half kilometres from Piazza Garibaldi, a walk of around 20 minutes. There are also buses which take 3 or 4 minutes; any of the 1, 9, 12, 13, 2120 or 2270 will get you from the station to the city centre. The eastbound train from Parma to Bologna takes 58 minutes and stops along the way in Reggio Emilia (17 mins) and Modena (31 mins). Heading north west you can reach Milan in one hour 27 minutes, stopping first in Fidenza (11 minutes) and Piacenza (35 mins).
By car from Parma you can reach Bologna in 1 hour 9 minutes (100 km) or the fellow provincial capitals as follows: Reggio Emilia - 41 mins (27 km), Modena - 57 mins (64 km), Piacenza - 57 mins (69 km), Ferrara- 1 hour 32 mins (143 km), Forlì - 1 hour 46 mins (173 km), Ravenna - 1 hour 50 mins (180 km), Cesena - 1 hour 51 minutes (189 km) and Rimini - 2 hours 10 minutes (218 km).
Although Parma does have its own airport, the number of destinations it connects to are few. With its central location, a number of alternative airports work well for visiting Parma: Bologna Airport is a car journey of 57 minutes (93 km), Milan Linate Airport an hour and 16 minutes (126 km) or Verona Airport an hour and 24 minutes (110 km).
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Region: Emilia Romagna
Regional district: Capital of Parma Province Population: 196,518 Top sights: Parma Cathedral, Parma Baptistery, Parco Ducale Close by: Fontanellato, Fidenza, Salsomaggiore Terme, Busseto Recommended accommodation: Link 124 Hotel |
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Public transport: Train station 1.5 km from centre, local buses
By car: Reggio Emilia - 41 mins (27 km), Modena - 57 mins (64 km) |
By air: Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport - 57 min by car (93 km)
By train: Fidenza (11 minutes), Reggio Emilia (17 minutes) |
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