Why You Should Travel to Parma, Italy

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Of all the cities you could visit, why should you travel to Parma, Italy? Oh, I’m happy to write about this topic!

I have been traveling in Emilia-Romagna, a beautiful and delicious region in northern Italy, since 2011. Bologna has always been my favorite city in the region (indeed, it’s my favorite city in Italy), but I’ve always considered Parma my second-favorite.

I first traveled to Parma for a day trip in 2013. I had gone for a parmigiano factory experience and spent the rest of the day enjoying the city. As I walked through Parma’s buzzing streets, I was pleasantly surprised. This city was so colorful! With such cute shops! And a truly spectacular cathedral!

One day wasn’t enough. But six years later, I came back.

This September, I attended the Social Travel Summit in Ravenna, Italy. Part of the summit included a three-day post-conference tour through Emilia-Romagna. With four different places I could choose to explore, I knew where I wanted to go the most: back to Parma.

And what a city it is.

People walking down a narrow street, some walking bicycles. The buildings are warm shades of orange and pink.

Travel to Parma, Italy

Parma is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy — but it seems like nobody knows about it! Parma is in the western part of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, located between Bologna and Milan.

Parma has a long and storied history — its centuries as a seat of power, its conquests by France and Milan, its wars and times of peace. But visit today and you’ll find a modern, beautiful and very colorful city.

Where is Parma, Italy?

Parma is located in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, in the western part between Bologna and Milan.

What are the best things to do in Parma?

The top 3 things to do in Parma are to visit the Cathedral of Parma, the Teatro Regio di Parma, and wander and enjoy Parma street life, along with the beautiful parks in the town.

What are the best things to do in Parma for foodies?

If you’re a foodie, you’re in for a treat in Parma! You must try culatello, prosciutto di Parma (aka parma ham for Brits), Parmigiano-Reggiano, and go wine tasting.

Where are the best places to stay in Parma?

The best place to stay in Parma is within the center city. Both hotels and apartment rentals are good options. Park Hotel Pacchiosi is a great luxury option.

Things To Do in Parma Italy

Parma is the kind of city I love visiting in Italy — it’s small enough to see the main sights on foot, but large enough to have lots of options; home to some interesting attractions but not overwhelming with a sightseeing to-do list; lots of cool shops and boutiques, and great food and wine!

A colorful street in Parma with yellow, pale red, and orange buildings stacked together, each with green shutters.

A fruit stand brimming with piles of fruits and vegetables in Parma, Italy.

Several bicycles parked outside a building with a bright pink wall and a large gray-blue door.

The streets are lovely enough — but there are three specific sites in Parma that I recommend visiting to experience the beauty of Parma because they’re visually stunning.

A square image of Parma's cathedral ceiling divided into sections shaped like an X, paintings on the ceiling.

The Cathedral of Parma

In my opinion, the Parma Cathedral (Duomo di Parma) is one of the most stunning cathedrals in Italy. And I say that as a somewhat jaded Italy traveler who is tired of seeing cathedrals all the time.

When you walk in, it takes your breath away.

Don’t miss the Baptistery either, with its frescoed ceiling.

Parma's cathedral, leading back to the altar, each wall covered with paintings and ornate gold decoration.

Parma's Baptistery ceiling -- planks leading to the center like a starburst, each segment covered in intricate frescoes.

The ornate theater with stacked rows of gold-and-white balconies.

Teatro Regio di Parma

One of Parma’s most famous residents is composer Giuseppe Verdi. Parma is Verdi-crazy with monuments and bridges named after him, and the city puts on a Festival Verdi each year.

(Fun fact about Kate: Did you know that I have a classical singing background? I performed Verdi’s Requiem with the Connecticut Grand Opera when I was in college and it was one of the best musical experiences of my life!)

If you’re spending time in Parma, you should take in a classical performance of some kind. And the Teatro Regio, Parma’s primary theater and one of the most famous opera houses, is absolutely SPECTACULAR — over the top in all its Baroque glory, layers of white and gold. It’s a cool place to visit, and they offer both main theater and backstage tours, and even if you’re not a fan of classical music, it’s worth checking out.

You can check the performance schedule here.

An old-fashioned giant theater with wooden benches in stadium-like seating, with wooden arches on top.

Teatro Farnese

Another cool place to check out in Parma is the Teatro Farnese — a place that is miraculous in the fact that it still exists. The theater was constructed almost entirely from wood in 1618.

It was almost entirely destroyed in 1944 during an Allied raid in World War II, but it was painstakingly reconstructed and reopened in 1962.

Some performances are still held here, and what a thrill it must be to perform in a place like this. Teatro Farnese is located within the Palazzo della Pilotta, which was the home of the Farnese family. In addition to the theater, you can find the National Archeological Museum, Biblioteca Palatina (the library), and the Parma National Gallery.

When you leave the theater, be sure to check out Parco Ducale, the largest park in the city of Parma, located right across the street. The Fountain of Parma River, located in the middle of the lake, is worth the stroll!

Old-fashioned stores painted green side by side in Parma, Italy, with motorbikes parked in front and people walking by.

Parma Street Life

But what I most enjoyed about Parma was its street life. I was there on a sunny September weekend, likely the last warm weekend of the year, and people were out in the streets, chatting with loved ones, sitting at outdoor tables and enjoying a bottle of wine.

Oh, and the SHOPPING. Parma is filled with all kinds of cool shops — clothing shops, houseware shops, food shops, map shops, all kinds of fun shops!

I absolutely love Bologna, and nowhere can match that city’s vibe. But I think Parma exceeds Bologna on some levels. It’s much prettier and more colorful (Bologna is primarily red and pink, but Parma uses a more varied warm palette). A lot of the streets in Bologna look the same, so much that I often get lost, but in Parma, everything’s more distinctive.

And if you’re looking to shop while in Italy (and you should!), I’d recommend Parma over Bologna. Bologna has H&M and Zara, and Prada and Gucci, but not a lot in between those two price tiers. Parma offers a lot more mid-range fashion.

Parma felt like Bologna — but with a prettifying Instagram filter on top.

And if you want to leave behind the city streets and appreciate a bit of nature, don’t miss the botanical gardens at the University of Parma!

People sitting outside at a restaurant in Parma, Italy

A butcher shop reading "La Prosciutteria" with people walking in front of it in Parma, Italy.

People walking down the streets surrounded by warm-colored buildings in Parma, Italy.

Kate and Cailin take a smiling selfie while toasting small glasses of red lambrusco wine.

And I was surprised at how cheap Parma can be. Much cheaper than the major cities in northern Italy. Cailin and I enjoyed some glasses of lambrusco — just 1.50 EUR each!

Piazza del Duomo

Located in the city centre, Piazza Duomo is home to Baptistery, The Cathedral, and the Diocesan. Each of these places is worth a wander.

The Duomo di Parma or the Roman Catholic Cathedral is next to the Baptistery, though perhaps the most eye-catching part of the duomo is the gothic campanile. A 12th century earthquake left the cathedral with significant damage and when rebuilding began again in 1284, it was with a gothic style.

Culatello

I consider myself a cured meats aficionado and an Emilia-Romagna expert — but I’m embarrassed that I knew almost nothing about culatello before this trip. Parma may be most famous for its namesake prosciutto, but culatello is prosciutto on a much higher level.

When my boyfriend saw on my schedule that I’d be visiting a culatello producer, he was thrilled — he loves Italy and Italian food just as much as I do (maybe even more). He asked me if I could bring a culatello home.

“Sure, I’ll get you one,” I said.

“I’ll give you money.”

“Nah, it’s fine, you can pay me back.”

“No, I’ll give you money. It could be four hundred euros.”

I stared, aghast. Four hundred euros? Just how good WAS this meat?

Quite good, it turns out.

The outdoor dining area -- chairs underneath an ivy-covered trellis, surrounded by lavender bushes, red brick buildings in the background.

We visited Antica Corte Pallavicina, located in the town of Polesine Parmense, about a 45-minute drive northwest of Parma. This is not only a culatello production facility — it’s also a luxurious agriturismo and restaurant.

One thing you’ll learn quickly in Emilia-Romagna is that the region is full of micro-climates, and many traditional foods must be produced within a tiny, specific micro-climate. Traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena is perhaps the best known product; I wrote about that here.

Culatello is also dependent on a microclimate and is produced in the misty, humid lowlands north of Parma. “For us, this is a clear day,” our guide Giorgia joked, pointing up at the hazy gray-blue sky.

Culatello hams in a cellar, hanging from chains and connected with cobwebs.

Hanging culatello in the basement, some labeled with "Principe Alberto II" and "Principe Carlo" for Prince Albert and Prince Charles.

The culatelli hang and cure in cellars, no more climate control than simply the opening and closing of a window. It’s like a scene out of a horror movie, hams hanging on chains and connected by cobwebs in the darkness.

And if you look closely — those hams are reserved for Prince Albert of Monaco, Prince Charles, and some of the best restaurants around the world, from Osteria Francesana in nearby Modena to the Shangri-La in Tokyo.

Chef Massimo Spigaroli is the guiding force at Antica Corte Pallavicina. He’s the latest in a long line of culatello producers — his great-grandfather actually cured hams for Verdi!

He’s still producing culatello today — and running both the inn and the restaurant, and giving pasta-making classes to visitors. We joined in.

A giant mound of flour with twelve raw eggs sitting inside it.

Chef's hands sculpting tortelli -- large tortellini. His hands surround the cheese stuffing and push down.

An oval bowl filled with tortilli pasta, topped with lots of parmigiano cheese.

A large wooden platter covered with several cured meats, including culatello, salami, and raw pancetta (white and slithery and gross, but hey, some people are into that).

After half an hour of pasta-shaping, it was time to finally taste the culatello. So how was it?

OH, so good.

Culatello tastes like prosciutto, but there’s a complexity and deepness to the flavor that you don’t get in most meats. It’s more delicate, too — it almost melts on your tongue, like lardo.

I can see why it’s so revered.

A bottle of red wine being poured into a small white bowl for drinking.

Wine used to be considered a food, our server told us, so people used to drink it out of bowls. She poured bowls for us and honestly, the wine seems to go down more quickly when you drink it that way!

And the pasta? Delectable.

A blackboard with the prices of culatello written on them, starting at 68 euros per kilogram.

And in the end, I did buy a culatello to take back with me. “What can I get for two hundred euros?” I asked an employee. She recommended half a culatello oro. It came out to 147 EUR ($164). I felt like such a baller!

Half a culatello was more than enough meat to enjoy at home — and it tasted just as good when sliced thin and served with scrambled eggs for breakfast.

If you ever have a chance to try culatello, go for it. Culatello became available for purchase in the US in 2017. But there’s nothing like having it at its source, in the misty lowlands near Parma.

As for Antica Corte Pallavicina, I would absolutely go back and stay overnight. I always recommend that travelers to Italy spend at least a bit of time in the countryside — this is a great place to do so!

Parmigiano Reggiano

Parma is home to another world-famous Italian specialty: parmigiano reggiano cheese. This cheese, this superb cheese, this cheese that I buy constantly from the good grocery store in my neighborhood, is a building block of Italian cuisine. The real stuff is a million times better than any “parmesan cheese” you find at the store. Parmigiano makes everything better. Throw a rind in with a pot of soup and taste how much it changes!

Emilia-Romagna has become a culinary travel powerhouse in the last few years — and more people are traveling here to see how the foods are made. Parmigiano Reggiano factory tours have become popular events. We visited Latteria Santo Stefano, where you can learn how this fine cheese is made.

(I think everyone in our group had a crush on tattooed cheese dude on the right.)

Learning about the cheese is so interesting. But the best part is TAKING PHOTOS WITH THE CHEESE!

Kate poses with one foot in the air in the middle of the aisle in the cheese factory, surrounded by rows and rows of cheese.

Three wedges of cheese in a row, each broken up into bite-size pieces.

Afterward, we sampled the different types of aged cheese — 12, 24, and 36 months. My favorite was definitely the 24. I bought a wedge to take with me — costing a fraction of what I’d pay at Fairway in New York City.

Oh and it’s worth noting that it pairs incredibly well with parma ham and prosciutto di parma, not to mention the culatello mentioned above.

Four wine bottles (one rose, one white, two red) resting on a bottle surrounded by brown leaves, greenery in the background.

Wine Tasting Near Parma

If you’re going to Italy, you will likely want to go wine tasting. And you can find great wine everywhere. But if you’re looking for something special, visit Venturini Baldini, about a 40-minute drive from Parma.

This organic winery has plenty of swoon-worthy wines — including some fabulous sparkling rosé wines and some Lambruscos! (Lambrusco is from Emilia-Romagna and trust me, it tastes so much better than what you’ve had in the US.)

Not only do they have wine, they also have a selection of vinegars — very fine and special vinegars. Keep in mind that we’re not in Modena so these aren’t considered the traditional balsamic vinegar from that region, but they are special and make a wonderful nonperishable foodie gift to bring home.

One warning — being an organic winery, it means that pesticides aren’t used. If you’re drinking wine outside, try to keep the insects from diving into your glass.

People walking down the street in front of orange buildings in Parma.

Parma, Italian Capital of Culture

Parma was chosen as Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2020! However, with the events of 2020, this was postponed until 2021. While this is now over, a creative legacy remains in the streets or Parma.

The Verdi bridge in Parma, gray stone and iron, topped with pink flowers.

Where to Stay in Parma

In Parma I stayed at the Hotel Sina Maria Luigia. This four-star hotel is very comfortable and in a pretty good location, a short walk from the action. It was a very Italian hotel catering to Italians more than an international crowd. Wifi was terrible and it was difficult to open the window shades.

If you’re looking to stay in Parma, whether in a hotel or a rental apartment, I recommend staying within the city center. There are lots of great properties at a variety of price points, and I think you’ll be pleased with how far your money goes compared to Florence or even Bologna.

Top-rated hotels in Parma

Best Luxury Hotel in Parma: Park Hotel Pacchiosi

Best Mid-range Hotel in Parma: Link124 Hotel

Best Budget Hotel in Parma: Ibis Styles Parma Toscanini

Find deals on Parma hotels here.

A view of Parma's crenellating side buildings with a steeple in the distance.

How to Get to Parma

If you’re flying into Italy, Parma is easily accessible from Bologna and Milan airports. I recommend flying into Bologna Airport if you can; if you fly into Milan, Linate Airport is much closer to Parma than Malpensa Airport and it will save you an extra hour in transit by car or rail.

If you’re taking the train to Parma, the city is strategically located on the train lines between Milan and Bologna, which are two of Italy’s biggest rail hubs.

Flixbus and other bus lines stop in Parma as well.

A bright orange building with lots of columns underneath a blue sky.

Where to Go After Traveling to Parma

The Emilia-Romagna region of Italy is one of my favorite regions in the world. You have plenty of wonderful places to include when you travel to Parma.

Reggio Emilia, pictured above, is a lovely little city that I discovered on this trip. It’s similar in size to Parma but feels much smaller. Be sure to sample the local specialty, erbazzone: a delicious pastry filled with chard, parmigiano, and pancetta. 15 minutes from Parma train station.

Modena is another lovely city with outstanding food traditions, like traditional balsamic vinegar, and one of the best restaurants in the world Osteria Francescana (make reservations months in advance). It’s a beautiful city with a UNESCO World Heritage-listed cathedral. 30 minutes from by train.

Bologna is the largest city in Emilia-Romagna. This university city has a relaxed and unpretentious feel, tons of value-for-money restaurants with outstanding food, and a great vibe without too many tourists. One hour from Parma by train.

You can plan your entire Italy trip in Emilia-Romagna and believe me, that wouldn’t be a waste of time!

Travel Insurance in Italy

One last note — it’s absolutely vital to have travel insurance before traveling to Parma, or anywhere in Italy. If you get sick or injured on your trip, if you get robbed, or even if you have to be flown home for more care, travel insurance will protect you from financial ruin. I use and recommend World Nomads for trips to Italy.

Travel insurance will help you in your hour of need if you come down with appendicitis in Parma, or trip and break an ankle while climbing down those stairs, and if your flights get canceled, you can get accommodation and new flights paid for.

As always, be sure to read your policy carefully and make sure it’s a fit for you. See what World Nomads covers here.

Parma is waiting for you!

I am so glad I got to spend more time in Parma. A lot of people will only visit Parma as a day trip (hell, until this year I only visited as a day trip), but there is SO much to offer. Come here at least for a weekend.

And I won’t lie — I enjoyed myself so much in Parma that I actually looked up the prices of property. And it’s less than you’d think!

Planning a Trip to Italy:

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Travel to Parma, Italy -- Pinterest Graphic

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