Parma on the Parma River

Parma is the second most populous city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. The city is known for its architecture, music, art, prosciutto ham, and Parma cheese. It is home to the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world. The city is divided by the Parma River (a large stream).

One of the tourist attractions here is to visit a dairy to see cheese-makers creating the popular cheese Parmigiano Reggiano.

Parma Vecchia is the old town across the Parma River.

To get there start at Piazza Garibaldi, and walk along Strada Mazzini west across the Ponte de Mezzo Bridge. The bridge offers nice views of the Parma River.

You'll see the Santissima Annunziata built in 1566.

See the house at Borgo Rodolfo Tanzi 13 which was the home of the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini who was born in 1867.

Piazza Garibaldi is the place to begin your tour with the 18th-century facade of the Palazzo del Governatore. The building has an intricate astronomical clock.

The Parma Cathedral takes up one entire side of the Piazza del Duomo. This is a Romanesque basilica dating back to the 12th century. Painted inside the dome is the huge fresco Assumption of the Virgin, painted by Correggio, the premier artist of the Parma School during the Italian Renaissance.

On the right side of the cathedral is the massive octagonal marble Baptistery with Biblical reliefs carved on the doorways.

Behind the Parma Cathedral is the convent church of San Giovanni Evangelista.

Stopping by the convent you can see the Storica Farmacia di San Giovanni Evangelists, an old apothecary shop. It has a Rennaisance interior where monks sell cough drops, creams, and other herbal products.

Teatro Farnese was built by Italian architect Andrea Palladio and is the largest theater in the world. It is supposed to be the first theater built with a permanent proscenium arch. The theater was destroyed during WW II and was rebuilt and reopened in 1962. It greets opera lovers from all around the globe during the opera season from January through early April and in September and October for the annual Verdi festival. Guided backstage tours are available.

Palazzo della Pilotta faces Piazzale Marconi. This is a huge brick building that was begun in 1583 and left unfinished. It has a large courtyard. Inside the palace is the National Museum of Art and Archaeology.

There is also the lovely Biblioteca Palatina.

The Shrine of Santa Maria della Steccata is a Greek-cross-designed Renaissance church. A Nursing Madonna is enshrined within. The large fresco in the apse depicts the Coronation of the Virgin with Saints painted in 1541 by Michelangelo Anselmi.

Guided tours are available of the Ducal Palace. It is an amazing building with intricate decoration both inside and outside,

Parco Ducale was once the grounds and gardens of the 16th-century Plaazzo Ducale. Originally it was a landscaped garden in French and Italian styles. Today this is a peaceful riverside park where visitors can stroll along the water, sit on benches, and enjoy nature. People like to come with their families to picnic here.

There are two nearby towns to visit. One is Torrechiara an Apennine village overshadowed by a large 15th century castle. This is one of the region's best-preserved castles. The castle makes visitors feel as those they are in a fairy tale. The village has quaint streets to stroll along.

Sabbioneta, a little town is northeast of Parma. It was built as a model princely residence and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are fortifications, palaces, a church, and an unusual theater hosting summer performances. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery.