Best Things to Do in Parma

The Emilia Romagna region in northern Italy is as stunning as it is diverse, from being the home of luxury cars like Ferrari to possessing some of the most brilliant cities. Parma is one such city. It is the second largest in the region, home to an intriguing history of Renaissance art, and is a hallmark destination for Italian cuisine. There are plenty of things to do in Parma to keep you occupied.

Parma has many attractions, like the Parma Cathedral and Baptistery or the National Gallery, each boasting intricate architecture and artworks that any tourist would enjoy. However, the main feature that draws visitors in from across the world is the food.

Both Parma and its larger sister, Bologna, are famous for their local food culture, but Parma is a hidden gem that shouldn’t be overlooked. So, the best thing you can do is get into the food scene by visiting museums or trying out some delicacies at local restaurants. This guide will take you through what to do in Parma, Italy, to help you make the most of your trip.

Get a Taste of Local Cuisine

When visiting Parma, the best thing you can do is indulge in some traditional dishes and popular foods by visiting local restaurants or taking food tours offered by locals. Here are some of the best food experiences in Parma to try.

Visit a Parma Restaurant

It’s often tricky to decide on the best places to eat when visiting a new country, and Italy is full of fantastic options that serve mouthwatering dishes and local delicacies. Make sure to include some of these restaurants in your Parma itinerary.

• Ristorante Cocchi – First established in 1925, Ristorante Cocchi offers visitors a taste of Parma cuisine. The choices are endless, whether you want a selection of fresh cheeses, meats, and vegetables in a classic antipasto or a hearty plate of hand-rolled pasta like Anolini in Brodo. Finish your meal with Zabaglione and Amaretti biscuits for dessert.
• Trattoria Corrieri – Trattoria Corrieri is a brilliant restaurant in the city center near Parco Ducale, specializing in Parmesan classics since 1800. Try in-house specialties, like the filled Cappelletti pasta in a rich, flavorful broth or the succulent stuffed veal tip with crispy, golden brown potatoes. If you have a sweet tooth, you can try the decadent chocolate Susanna cake.
• Gallo d’Oro Ristorante – This next restaurant is a local favorite in the city center behind Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi. Gallo d’Oro Ristorante serves plenty of tasty dishes, from gnocco fritto and salami to tortellini pasta filled with a mixture of parma ham, ricotta, and parmigiano reggiano cheese. You can also choose from delicious sweet treats, tarts, and pastries.
• Osteria dei Servi – Osteria dei Servi offers a blend of traditional and contemporary Parmesan cuisine, using local ingredients and delivering mouthwatering meals. The menu is extensive, but consider the mushroom risotto or fresh, handmade pasta. You can also try dessert, like the delicious Liffo pudding.

What to Eat and Drink in Parma

Once you’ve picked out where to eat, you need to decide what to try. A few local delicacies and popular foods make Parma fantastic, and these are just a few to try.

• Parmigiano Reggiano – Parmigiano Reggiano is the region’s world-famous hard cheese made from skimmed and unpasteurized cow’s milk. Its lengthy aging process gives it a delicious, nutty, complex flavor and gritty texture. Be careful not to confuse it with imitators called parmesan cheese. Authentic Parmigiano Reggiano is only produced in certain provinces within Emilia Romagna according to Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) standards.
• Prosciutto di Parma – Prosciutto di Parma ham is a type of cured pork meat specific to Emilia Romagna. It’s 100% natural, has no additives or preservatives, and is cured for significantly longer than other forms of ham, adding to its distinctive flavor. The incredible taste of Proscuitto di Parma is both sweet and salty and has a unique soft, delicate texture, often described as being like butter.

• Balsamic Vinegar – Traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena is a special treat made only in the Modena and Reggio Emilia provinces. It is made from grapes cultivated in each of these provinces and involves a very lengthy aging process of twelve years, minimum. The result is a thick, dark liquid that blends sweet and sour tones. It’s perfect as an accompaniment to cheese or even drizzled over fior di latte gelato.
• Lambrusco Wine – To round off your culinary delights, you can’t skip out on a glass of slightly sparkling red wine, and Lambrusco is the best. It comes in different varieties depending on the region, and the Parma variety is the most intense. Made from Lambrusco Maestri grapes cultivated in local vineyards, this wine is dry with peppery and oaky notes. It’s best enjoyed with plates of cured meats including Prosciutto di Parma.

Go on a Food Tour

A food tour is a great way to immerse yourself in Parma’s food culture, especially if you have no idea where to start or what to try. A guide acquainted with the area will take you through the best restaurants, markets, and shops to help you discover the best of what Parma has to offer, and often some hidden secrets known only to the locals.

Food tours are abundant, but these half-day tours offered by GetYourGuide should be at the top of your list:

• Parmigiano Production and Parma Ham Tour and Tasting – This tour lets you taste and learn more about parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production. Visit a cheese factory, watch the creation of classic Parmigiano Reggiano, and then move to the Langhirano region to learn about Prosciutto di Parma while learning about the history of these foods. The tour includes tastings and a glass of Malvasia wine to top it off.
• Traditional Food Tour – This next tour takes you away from large factories to the street food scene, where local delicacies thrive. Get to know five of the best street food locations and try the best dishes popularized in the Emilia-Romagna region. Whether you want to try tortellini pasta, artichoke quiche, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, or cold cuts of parma ham, this experience has got you covered. The tour ends with a delectable Duchessa cake and some coffee to wash it down.

Visit the Food Museums

Another great addition to your itinerary when visiting Parma are the Parma Food Museums. Each quirky museum focuses on different types of food with a longstanding history in the area and is dedicated to sharing traditions and production processes. There are eight museums in and around Parma, but three stand out above the rest.

Museo del Parmigiano Reggiano

The first of the food museums is the Parmigiano Reggiano Museum in Soragna, a small town about 30 minutes away from Parma city center. The small museum is part of the Fortress Meli-Lupi of Soragna complex and is in a cheese-making plant dating back to 1848.

Inside the distinctive circular building, a plethora of equipment on display that shows the history of how this classic cheese was made awaits you. The museum also includes a café and a shop where you can buy portions of the delicious Parmigiano Reggiano and other neat kitchen trinkets.

Getting tickets for this museum and others in the museum range is as simple as heading to the ticket office. A general entry ticket is around €5 full price, but opt for guided tours for an extra €25 fee for a maximum of 25 people. You can also try these audio guides as you make your way through.

Museo del Prosciutto di Parma

Also around 30 minutes outside the city, in Langhirano, is where the Parma Ham Museum is located. Langhirano is the heart and home of Proscuitto di Parma and produces some of the finest quality ham in Italy. The museum is housed in the former Forum Boarium complex between the town’s historic center and the Parma River.

Learn about the area’s history and the various pig breeds used for producing high-quality cuts of Prosciutto. Exhibits showcase old machinery used throughout history, images, and documents, best accompanied by these free audio guides. Don’t forget to grab a bite to eat at the Ristorante al Museo and check out the museum shop for some keepsakes and produce to take home.

Museo della Pasta

The final food museum is dedicated to some of Italy’s finest pasta at the Pasta Museum. This gem is around 17 minutes away from the city in the farming court of Giarola. Furthermore, it’s in the town of Collecchio alongside the Taro River. The classic redbrick building stands out brilliantly alongside the wheat field beside it, making it as pleasing to look at as it is to visit.

Each section of the museum explains the ins and outs of pasta making, from the beginning stages of wheat cultivation and the milling process to how the handmade pasta is produced. You’ll also see old and new school pasta-making equipment and machinery.

Be sure to check out the Ristorante della Corte for a taste of the delectable pasta dishes famous in the province of Parma.

Cultural Sights in Parma

If you’re wondering what to do in Parma during your stay, the following five cultural sights are an incredible addition to your trip. Whether you want to admire the intricate religious art inside the Parma Cathedral or stroll through Ducal Park, these are a must-see.

Parma Cathedral and Baptistery

When you visit Parma Cathedral, you’ll undoubtedly be impressed by the architecture and artwork inside and out. The Parma Cathedral, or Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral, began construction around 1074. It boasts intricate Renaissance styles of artwork and frescoes by Lattanzio Gambara that could rival the paintings of Camera di San Paolo in the former Ministry of San Paolo.

The baptistry, also known as the San Giovanni Battista Baptistery, is next door in the piazza. It is another beautiful structure, built between 1196 and 1216, and represents one of the most important medieval monuments of early Gothic Architecture. The interior is just as impressive, with frescoes on a 13th-century cupola and detailed sculptures.

The cathedral and the baptistry are seated in Piazza Duomo, alongside the Bishop’s Palace, which houses the Diocesan Museum.

Palazzo della Pilotta

One of the best things to see in Parma, Italy, is the Palazzo della Pilotta. It began construction around 1583 and has undergone the test of time, serving as a place of work for the Farnese court, stables, barracks, and more. Part of the structure sustained significant damage during the Second World War but has now been restored into a museum complex, perfect for a day trip.

The museum complex includes five exhibitions: the National Gallery, Farnese Theater, National Archaeological Museum, Palatine Library, and the Bondoni Museum. While the National Archaeological Museum, library, and Bondoni Museum are all great places to visit, the National Gallery and Farnese Theater stand out above the rest.

Galleria Nazionale

The Galleria Nazionale di Parma, or the National Gallery, contains an impressive collection of artwork dedicated to various eras, ranging from paintings by Leonardo da Vinci to ancient artifacts and sculptures. It has 27 exhibition spaces, ranging from art in Parma (1300–1400) to sacred art in Emilia (1600–1700) and Palatine Colossi. That’s not even including temporary exhibitions.

Teatro Farnese

The breathtaking Teatro Farnese was built in 1618 by Giovan Battista Aleotti but was one of the areas of the Palazzo that sustained damage during WWII. It was rebuilt again into the masterpiece it is today and is now open to host different theatrical events and musical performances. It also has two exhibition spaces dedicated to the history of the theatre.

Parco Ducale

Last but certainly not least, you can’t visit Parma without having a day trip to Ducal Park. It was initially built in 1560 and expanded in 1561 for the Farnese family and has since been developed into a grand site. The park has what you’d expect: playgrounds, fountains, swing sets, and outdoor tables, but there’s more to it than that.

The Fountain of Parma River, which sits in the center of the artificial lake, is a gorgeous sight. Well-maintained gardens and intricate sculptures by Jean-Baptiste Boudard are also present throughout the park. However, the highlight of Parco Ducale has to be the imposing Ducal Palace, which now hosts the Italian Carabinieri offices.

Wrapping Up Best Things to Do in Parma

That’s a wrap. It’s clear that when you visit Parma, Italy, things to do aren’t hard to find. This city is great for everyone – foodies, art lovers, locals, and tourists alike. Whether discovering Parma’s food culture, admiring the collections of the National Gallery, or sightseeing at the brilliant Ducal Park, this trip will be one for the ages.

Now that you know what makes Parma worth visiting, why not journey to another gem in Emilia Romagna and check out these day trips from Bologna?

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