How one can Plan a Journey to Parma, Italy

Parmigiano-Reggiano is without doubt one of the world’s most well-known and beloved cheeses, but its birthplace isn’t one of many first locations that individuals consider when planning a visit to Italy. What a disgrace. Regardless of residing in Rome for 5 years and visiting Italy dozens of instances earlier than that, it took me years to get to Parma, however after I lastly did, I noticed what an unbelievable place I’d been lacking. Positioned in Emilia-Romagna, about an hour from Bologna, Parma is on the coronary heart of Italy’s Meals Valley. In reality, it’s acknowledged by UNESCO as a Artistic Metropolis for Gastronomy.

Parma traces its roots again to historical Rome, but it surely entered a golden age when it turned a part of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza in 1545. Underneath the Farnese dukes, town turned rich and highly effective. Renaissance painters like Correggio and Parmigianino left their mark, adorning palaces and church buildings which can be nonetheless must-visit spots as we speak.

On a current go to to Parma, I used to be enchanted by town’s elegant piazzas and streets lined with boutiques, eating places, and bars. It recurrently ranks amongst Italy’s most livable cities, in accordance with an annual survey by Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore. In comparison with crowded cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, Parma looks like a breath of contemporary air. It’s nonetheless comparatively under-the-radar, so you may actually dwell like a neighborhood and expertise a spot filled with artwork and tradition that is not overrun by vacationers.

To be taught extra, I reached out to native knowledgeable Micol Brianti, who was born and raised in Parma and manages a portfolio of vacation houses referred to as Michilab. Learn on to find why Parma made our listing of the finest cities to go to in Italy, and what you have to know to plan a visit.

Greatest Resorts & Resorts

Grand Resort de la Ville

Positioned a 15-minute stroll from the historic middle within the industrial Barilla Heart renovated by Renzo Piano, this trendy resort is one in every of Parma’s few five-star properties. Flooring-to-ceiling home windows, impartial tones, and glossy furnishings by Mies Van Der Rohe set the tone for a classy keep.

Sina Maria Luigia

A part of the family-run Sina Resorts group, this four-star resort within the coronary heart of town is well-suited for enterprise and leisure vacationers. Named for Napoleon’s second spouse who reigned over town, the resort is completed up in a basic model, with 101 rooms and suites, Maxim’s Restaurant, and L’Aiglon Bar.

NH Parma

This four-star resort by NH is conveniently situated simply steps from the prepare station and a fast stroll away from the historic middle. Its vivid, clear rooms are outfitted in modern furnishings, and an ample buffet breakfast is offered. It could not ooze persona, but it surely’s a terrific, inexpensive possibility for a quick keep.

Michilab

Along with her firm Michilab, Micol Brianti designs and manages short-term residence leases in Parma, Puglia, and Sardinia. The absolutely furnished, comfy flats vary in measurement from studios to a two-bedroom residence that may accommodate as much as six visitors.

Greatest Issues to Do

Get cultured on the Palazzo della Pilotta museum advanced.

One ticket grants you entry to 5 unbelievable sights on this historic palace constructed for the Farnese dukes: the Nationwide Gallery, the Farnese Theater, the Archeological Museum, the Palatine Library, and the Bodoni Museum, which is Italy’s first printing museum. “Palazzo della Pilotta actually transports you into one other world and is the perfect place to nourish your self with magnificence, particularly the Palatine. Simply coming into it and being enveloped in silence is sufficient to replenish you,” says Brianti.

See Correggio’s frescoes within the Digicam di San Paolo.

Brianti additionally recommends visiting the Digicam di San Paolo, which was initially a part of the abbess’ residence within the Benedictine convent of Saint Paul. In 1514, the Abbess Giovanni da Piancenza commissioned Correggio to embellish it with frescoes which can be thought-about masterpieces of Excessive Italian Renaissance artwork. The perfect half? You will have all of it to your self, as I did after I visited.

Get misplaced within the charming streets of the centro storico.

Parma’s centro storico (historic middle) is filled with slim streets lined with boutiques, eating places, and bars. Begin at Piazza Garibaldi, town’s predominant sq., and wander north towards the Duomo (the principle cathedral). “Taking a stroll in Strada Cavour means procuring, inventive encounters, and offers you the sensation of being in a movie,” Brianti says.

Go to a dairy to learn the way Parmigiano-Reggiano is made.

For an enchanting lesson in cheesemaking, guide a go to to one in every of Parma’s dairies to learn the way genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano is produced. The family-run Caseficio Montecoppe presents excursions and tastings, plus they’ve a store so you should purchase their cheeses to carry dwelling.

Take a stroll within the Parco Ducale.

Created by Duke Ottavio Farnese in 1561 and expanded within the 1700s, this serene inexperienced area turned a public park with Italian unification within the 1860s. Inside the park, there’s a playground for teenagers, an space for canines, fountains, sport tracks, and a restaurant with out of doors tables. “Each grownup from Parma ran round right here as a child and ate popcorn within the park,” notes Brianti.

Greatest Buying

La Prosciutteria Silvano Romani

Need to carry dwelling a few of the area’s gastronomic specialties? This little salumeria is full of charcuterie, cheeses, tortellini, and different culinary specialties, lots of that are packaged in vacuum-sealed containers. That is additionally a superb place to purchase provisions for a picnic on the garden of the Palazzo della Pilotta or the Parco Ducale.

Gazzabuglio

This pint-sized boutique sells a extremely curated number of classic designer baggage, jewellery, and garments. The proprietor seeks out hard-to-find items, reminiscent of classic Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès baggage.

I Love My Home

“This retailer all the time has what I’m in search of, and the proprietor may be very useful. They’ve a retailer on By way of Emilia with design objects for the house, and after I desire a contact of sophistication at dwelling, I all the time go there,” Brianti says.

Greatest Nightlife

Enoteca Tabarro

This little wine bar simply a few blocks from Piazza Garibaldi is the place to go to strive pure wines from Emilia-Romagna and past. If the climate is nice, seize a stool exterior and perch at one of many tables produced from wine barrels.

Greatest Eating places

Trattoria Ai Due Platani

This conventional trattoria simply exterior town middle was based within the Nineteen Twenties, and it’s nonetheless a favourite amongst locals. The pumpkin-stuffed tortelli are a should, however make sure you save room for dessert as a result of they wheel over a cart of selfmade gelato with toppings so you may create your individual sundae, Italian model.

Sorelle Picchi

“I really like Sorelle Picchi as a result of you may all the time get a desk with out a reservation, because it’s an enormous place. They serve typical Parma meals in an ambiance that looks like an outdated nation home,” says Brianti, including, “Their torta fritta is unbeatable!”

Ristorante Cocchi

This old-school, family-run restaurant hooked up to the Daniel Resort has been satisfying diners since 1925. The retro ambiance options wooden paneling, white tablecloths, cabinets filled with wine bottles, and colourful artwork on the partitions. Strive the pumpkin flan with parmesan fonduta and the parmesan rice savarin, a dome of rice draped with prosciutto.

Osteria dei Servi

“For me, dinner on the Osteria dei Servi means, above all, stracchino della duchessa, the most effective dessert that exists!” Brianti exclaims. Count on a charmingly conventional ambiance, with painted picket chairs and checkered desk runners, pleasant service, and scrumptious meals.

Antica Pasticceria Pagani

Come right here to strive the torta ungherese, a wealthy chocolate cake made with layers of sponge cake and chocolate buttercream. At this historic pastry store — which opened in 1856 — you may get a person portion to eat right here or purchase a complete cake to go.

Greatest Time to Go to

“My favourite season is autumn as a result of within the spring all of us undergo from allergic reactions, and in summer season and winter we don’t benefit from the metropolis as a result of we will’t wait to go dwelling to the heat or chilly,” says Brianti. “With its colours, illuminated store home windows, and aperitivo exterior, autumn is charming.”

Parma hosts a variety of occasions all year long which can be value planning a visit round, too.

The Cena dei Mille is an unforgettable annual occasion during which a 1,300-foot-long desk is ready up within the metropolis middle and a thousand folks dine along with the music of Giuseppe Verdi wafting via the air. Mercanteinfiera, Parma’s legendary antiques honest, takes place twice a 12 months (within the spring and fall) and attracts collectors and designers from world wide.

How one can Get There

Parma has a small airport with flights to and from cities in Italy and Europe, however for those who’re flying from the U.S., the closest main airport is Guglielmo Marconi Airport in Bologna, which is about an hour away. Parma can also be nicely related to the remainder of Italy by prepare.

How one can Get Round

The historic middle is sort of compact and walkable, so carry comfy footwear. Town is flat, so locals usually get round by bicycle.

Buses: Trasporti Publici Parma runs a community of buses. A single fare prices €1.70 and is legitimate for 80 minutes.

Taxi: Radio Taxi Parma is town’s taxi firm. From Bologna G. Marconi Airport to the historic middle, there’s a hard and fast charge of €140 (plus doable surcharges for baggage and tolls), however often fares are calculated based mostly on time and distance traveled. Obtain the itTaxi app or name +39.052.1252562 to hail a taxi.