Parma is one of several medieval cities that cut across Emilia-Romagna. The city and the area surrounding it is well known for its cuisine including its cheese and ham. At first glance the city may not appear to be as appealing as others in the region. However, this historic city it is rich in architecture, history and art. Once you start exploring you will find it has a lot to offer. The city is walkable and provides a suitable location if you want to do some shopping. The food and drink outlets available are of an excellent quality. They are also very friendly and accommodating towards visitors. The great thing here is that you will be eating in the same places as the locals. This avoids any restaurants that cater for tourists. If you only have one day an early start will mean you can cover a good number of sights. You will still have time in the to sample some local cuisine. Top sites include the Cattedrale di Parma, the Battistero di Parma and the National Gallery. You could also take in an evenings theatre performance or go on one of the Parma food tours.

Key Sights

Parma Cathedral – The cathedral can be shown in articles under a few different names. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary so is sometime shown as Santa Maria Assunta. Other times it can be Duomo (Cathedral) or Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square). The area including the baptistry and the Bishops Palace is referred to as Piazza del Duomo.

Having said this you will discover that it is easy to locate within the city. The building is in the romanesque style. The history of the building dates back to the 6th century. The construction of the current building began in the 11th century and was completed in the 12th century. A gothic style belfry was added later in the 13th century. The artwork of Antonio da Correggio add to the experience of the fabulous interior. As an illusionistic artist his frescoes share the physical space of the church with you. Other artists also contributed to the many frescoes making the interior a remarkable experience. Quite simply there is something on offer for everyone whether it be art, architecture or history. This won’t be the only amazing church to visit.

The Baptistery is a striking building standing next to the cathedral. Like some of the later editions to the cathedral this is in the Gothic style. It is considered by some to be one of the most significant medieval buildings in Europe. In the same area is also the Bishops Palace.

Pilotta Palace – This is a large striking building in the centre of the city. Depending on your route you could walk through its arches on the way from the train station. The Palace houses Teatro Farnese, the Archaeological Museum, the National Gallery and the Palatina Library. There are several different tickets available and some with reductions. Click here to see the price structure. The theatre is Baroque-style and dates back to the 17th century. The Archaeological Museum is small but houses some nice Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman artifacts. Italy is not short of famous painters and paintings. In the National Gallery you will see works from painters including Leonardo da Vinci and Correggio. If you are interested in old books then the Palatina is the place. For those interested in Dante there are frescoes from the Divine Comedy in the Dante Hall.

San Giovanni Evangelista – This is another amazing

Food and Drink

Further Afield

Getting Around