Although a trip to Parma (PAR-ma; pop. 180,000)—where platters overflow with aged parmesan cheese and rosy-pink prosciutto—will certainly never leave the taste buds unsatisfied, Parma’s artistic excellence is not confined to the kitchen. In the 16th century, Mannerist painting flourished under native artists Parmigianino and Correggio. The city was also the birthplace of composer Giuseppe Verdi, who resided in Parma while writing some of his greatest works. Pervasive French influences inspired Stendhal to choose the picturesque town as the setting of his 1839 novel The Charterhouse of Parma. If your tastes are less literary, have no fear—Parma’s nightlife, though confined to a few central streets, rivals that of much larger cities. Summer nights find students and travelers alike enjoying the bars, live music, and theatre.
Flights depart from Giuseppe Verdi Airport, V. dell’Aeroporto 44/A (☎ 98 26 26; fax 99 20 28). Parma lies on the Bologna-Milan line. Trains leave the station in Ple. Carlo Alberto della Chiesa ...more
To get to the city, exit the station with the fountain on your right. Turn left on Viale Bottego and right on Strada Garibaldi. Follow it 1km into town. Turn left on Strada Mazzini to reach Piazza Garibaldi ...more
Ostello della Gioventù (HI), V. San Leonardo 86 (☎ 0521 19 17 547; www.ostelloparma.it). From the train station, turn left onto V. Bottego. Make a right onto Strada G. Garibaldi. The bus stops ...more
Parma’s cuisine is rich, delicious, affordable, and renowned throughout Italy. Aged parmesan cheese and prosciutto crudo fill the windows of the salumerie (delicatessens) along V. Garibaldi. Local ...more
Palazzo Della Pilotta. Built in 1602, the palazzo ’s grandeur suggests the ambitions of the Farnese dukes; today, the palazzo houses several museums, accessible through the courtyard. Though ...more
At night, parmigiani stroll along Strada Farini, or the intersection of Strada Maestri and V. Nazario Sauro, where the truly vibrant nightlife rivals that of a much larger city. Bars and street performers ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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