Spotlight on Parma

Say cheese while you navigate your way around the flavours of Parma! Home to one of the world’s favourite cheeses, Parmesan and of course Parma Ham. Whet your appetite? Then read on to find out more...

Spotlight on Parma
Photo by Petar Lazarevic / Unsplash

Say cheese while you navigate your way around the flavours of Parma! Home to one of the world’s favourite cheeses, Parmesan and of course Parma Ham or Parmigiana Reggiana and Prosciutto di Parma as they are known in their home city.

In fact the Italians in Parma are so passionate about their food, they have museums dedicated to their ingredients too!

Take a visit to the Prosciutto di Parma Museum and find out everything you'll need to know about Parma ham. Think photos, historical documents, machinery, and audio-visual technology that takes you through Italian ham-related territory. From the different breeds of pigs and the processing of ham to the pork butchers and their customs.

Or what about the Tomato Museum, which pays homage to the history and cultural significance of this humble fruit, with seven richly detailed exhibition sections devoted to the story of how tomatoes conquered the taste buds and kitchens of Italy?

The Pasta Museum is a must too! Learn about every stage in the pasta-making process, feast your eyes on the biggest grain of wheat you've ever seen, be wowed by the time-honoured methods of cultivation, and compare an old mill grinder to a modern roller mill. Hungry? Then there is also a tasting menu available, find out more below.

As well as culinary history, take in some of the beautiful architecture such as the renaissance Basilica of St Mary of Steccate, or the Chiostri di San Giovanni, a monastery dating back to the 10th-century.  Parma is also surrounded by lush green spaces including Ducal Park, with tree-lined paths and an ornate lake, perfect for taking a stroll.

Parma also has great night life, with laid back bars, osterias and of course delicious wines.

Whet your appetite? Then book your travel package today!