Parma has given the world two of its best-known foods, a great conductor and one of the most daring painted domes of the Renaissance. For centuries it was the capital of a duchy, ruled first by the Farnese family and later by Napoleon's second wife. Here are the facts and stories that make the city special.
10 fun facts about Parma
- A ham with two ingredients: Prosciutto di Parma is made from nothing but pork legs and sea salt, cured in the hills south of the city.
- Where Parmesan gets its name: Parmigiano Reggiano is named after Parma and Reggio Emilia. Each wheel weighs around 40 kilos and is aged for at least 12 months.
- A UNESCO City of Gastronomy: Parma joined UNESCO's network of Creative Cities of Gastronomy in 2015, and it is the seat of the European Food Safety Authority.
- A theatre made of wood: the Teatro Farnese, built in 1618 by Giovanni Battista Aleotti inside the Palazzo della Pilotta, was almost destroyed by bombing in 1944 and reopened in 1962. At its first performance, in 1628, the arena was flooded for a mock sea battle.
- A dome full of figures: Correggio painted the Assumption of the Virgin in the cathedral's dome between 1526 and 1530, a whirl of bodies seen from below. The story goes that a canon compared it to a stew of frogs.
- A pink marble baptistery: the octagonal baptistery beside the cathedral was begun in 1196 by Benedetto Antelami, in pink Verona marble.
- Verdi's home ground: Giuseppe Verdi was born in 1813 in Roncole, a village in the province of Parma, and the Teatro Regio, opened in 1829, hosts the Festival Verdi every autumn.
- A conductor's birthplace: Arturo Toscanini was born in Parma in 1867, and the house where he was born is now a museum.
- A duchess and her violets: Marie Louise of Austria, Napoleon's second wife, ruled the Duchy of Parma from 1816 to 1847. Her love of violets made the Parma violet a symbol of the city, still used in perfumes and sweets.
- Pasta from Parma: Barilla began as a bread and pasta shop opened in Parma in 1877, and the company is still based here.
How the Farnese made Parma a capital
In 1545 Pope Paul III, born Alessandro Farnese, created the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza for his son Pier Luigi. The new duke was murdered two years later, but the family ruled for almost two centuries, filling the city with palaces, gardens and the vast Palazzo della Pilotta. When the last Farnese duke died in 1731, the title passed to Charles of Bourbon, son of Elisabetta Farnese, queen of Spain. On becoming king of Naples in 1734 he took the family's art collection with him, which is why many Farnese treasures are now in Naples rather than Parma.
The Oltretorrente, explained
Across the Parma stream from the centre lies the Oltretorrente, historically the city's working-class quarter. In August 1922 its residents put up barricades and held off thousands of Fascist squad members led by Italo Balbo, an episode remembered as the Barricades of Parma. Today the district is known for its trattorias, and it is home to the Parco Ducale, the ducal garden laid out by the Farnese, and to Toscanini's birthplace.
What to eat in Parma
- Prosciutto di Parma: sliced thin and eaten with torta fritta, squares of puffy fried dough served warm.
- Culatello di Zibello: a prized cured pork from the lowlands along the Po, aged in damp cellars.
- Anolini in brodo: small stuffed pasta served in a rich meat broth, a classic of the Christmas table.
- Tortelli d'erbetta: pasta filled with chard and ricotta, dressed with butter and Parmigiano, traditionally eaten on the night of San Giovanni, 23 June.
- Lambrusco and Malvasia: the local red and white wines, often lightly sparkling and served cool.
Good to know before you go
- The Palazzo della Pilotta houses the Teatro Farnese, the National Gallery and the Palatine Library, so allow a few hours.
- Ham and Parmigiano producers in the countryside offer visits. Cheese dairies work early in the morning, so book ahead and go early.
- The Festival Verdi takes place every autumn at the Teatro Regio and other venues, and tickets go quickly.
- Busseto and Verdi's birthplace at Roncole make an easy half-day trip, and Bologna is about an hour away by train.
Explore Parma with World City Trail
Our Parma scavenger hunt turns these sights into a game you play on your phone. The route leads through the main sights of the historic centre and takes around two hours, with about 26 minutes of walking.
At each stop you solve a puzzle and hear a short story, at your own pace. You can start whenever you like and play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Dutch.
Play the Parma scavenger hunt →
Facts checked in October 2026.