Capital of the Food Valley, packed with landmarks, posh and full of nature, to be discovered in just 24 hours: here's what to do in a day in Parma
Elegant, noble and quiet, but with a genuine spirit; a city on a human scale, where the days flow slowly, cultural events never lack and the wine and food tradition is always present: in a nutshell, this is Parma.
Located in the northwestern part of Emilia and not far from Lombardy, the “little Paris”, as it is often called, is a must-see destination for those who wish to explore the region, as well as a casket of countless wonders. In this small guide, we will suggest what to do in a day in Parma, from morning to evening, and which more or less well-known places to explore in the historic center in a 24-hour timeframe.
What to do in a day in Parma and what to expect
A centuries-old city, Parma is truly a must-see destination if you are visiting the splendid lands of Emilia. An important center of art and music, theater and opera that was the birthplace of Giuseppe Verdi and Arturo Toscanini, it features churches and historic buildings from every era and evidence of its past as a Duchy, but it is also home to an important university and where there is never a shortage of festivals and gathering opportunities- not surprisingly, we're talking about the Italian Capital of Culture in the 2020-2021.
But we are also talking about a context rich in carefully tended green spaces, cobblestone alleyways to ride through by bike, extraordinarily beautiful squares in which to lose yourself with your nose up and, last but not least, an unparalleled culinary richness, which made it gain the title of Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015, as well as the capital of the Food Valley.
Therefore, Parma is a highly-recognized, multi-faceted city that fulfills the needs of all kinds of visitors and therefore certainly deserves a visit to be made by bicycle, as the locals do, or on foot. So why not take a touch and have a taste of it in 24 hours? Throw yourself into this short but intense adventure and follow our tips on what to do and see in Parma in one day in its historic center.
What about a city walking tour in Parma?❯9 a.m.: visiting the Ducal Palace
Let's start our sightseeing tour from a must-see, the main testimony to the great glories of the city's past: the Ducal Palace, or Palazzo del Giardino.
Among the things to visit in Parma in a day, you certainly cannot miss this splendid example of urban architecture, which was commissioned by Duke Ottavio Farnese and was the seat of the ducal court in the 17th century until it was moved to the Palazzo della Pilotta. Destroyed by bombing during World War II, it was rebuilt in the 1950s and 1960s and repainted in the so-called “Parma yellow”, the color of many buildings in the city. Today it is home to the Carabinieri headquarters and a section of the RIS, or scientific police.
But it is a building rich in artistic heritage, sumptuously furnished rooms, excellently preserved frescoes painted by masters such as Alessandro Tiarini and Agostino Carracci.
Unfortunately, opportunities to admire all this splendor are very rare, because for security reasons it is open only every first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This is why it is often described as a “secret building,” and this is why you absolutely cannot miss it on your one-day Parma itinerary.
11 a.m.: walking in the greenery of Parco Ducale
Charmed by the beauty of the palace, you can enjoy an hour or so of complete relax in the greenery of its garden.
The Ducal Park covers about a third of the area of Parma's historic center and embraces it with its centuries-old trees, especially elms, horse chestnuts and plane trees, which provide precious shade in hot weather. Exclusively made for the ducal court, it was taken over in the Bourbon era and following the Unification of Italy became the public park we know today.
It also contains beautiful groups of statues and monumental fountains, a Rationalist-style theater and the marvelous neoclassical Arcadia temple, built for the wedding of Duke Ferdinand of Bourbon and Duchess Maria Amalia D'Asburgo-Lorena.
Crossed by the Parma stream, it is an ideal place to enjoy some coolness and tranquility, to read a book lulled by the chirping of birds or for a running session. In summer, it also becomes the heart of the city's nightlife, enlivened by numerous daytime and evening events, such as concerts, theater performances and food festivals.
12:30 p.m.: taking a trip into art at the APE museum
Let's continue our itinerary of Parma in 24 hours by moving to one of its most innovative realities, the APE museum, an original gathering and discovery spot for all ages since 2018.
This space has breathed new life into an abandoned old palace in the heart of Parma and currently hosts numerous art exhibits and shows, as well as concerts, book presentations and performances by representatives of contemporary art – the acronym APE stands precisely for Arts, Performance and Events, but it is also the Italian word for bee, an industrious, restless bug, essential to the ecosystem.
From painting to photography, passing through cinema and literature, the APE currently proposes diverse exhibitions for a variety of audiences and is certainly a must-see if you love art all-round.
2 p.m.: enjoying an Emilian lunch
At this point, your hunger is kicking in: how about a pit stop for lunch at one of the downtown trattorias?
Of course, as you are visiting the Capital of the Food Valley, we recommend a menu of local recipes, such as anolini and the famous Parma rose.
The first can be described somewhat as the “cousins” of ravioli, because they are fresh egg pasta buttons, filled with beef and Parmesan cheese, and they are generally (but not exclusively) served in broth. The second is a intensely flavored roast beef, a triumph of some of the typical ingredients of Parma, such as the prosciutto crudo and Parmigiano in its filling, and Lambrusco wine which is used to season the meat and make a delicious dressing sauce.
3 p.m.: getting lost in the Pilotta monumental complex
After your rich meal at the trattoria, a digestive walk is necessary: we suggest you go to the nearby Pilotta monumental complex, probably the most distinctive symbol of Parma.
A further testament to the power of the Farnese family, the complex is a Renaissance-style treasure that includes several buildings, such as the Farnese Theater, the National Gallery, the Archaeological Museum, the Palatina Library, and the Bodoni Museum, the oldest in Italy dedicated to the art of printing.
Explore one of the most stunning church in Parma ❯6 p.m.: admiring Toscanini's house-museum
We complete our one-day cultural tour of Parma by entering the house where Arturo Toscanini was born, now converted into a museum. Visiting Parma in a day on foot must necessarily include a stop at this very curious place, to enter for a while into the life of the world-famous conductor.
The house in which Toscanini was born became a museum in 1967, in order to celebrate its centenary, thanks to his children who bought it and donated it to the city; in its interior you can admire a series of mementos and objects collected from the Maestro's various residences, his international awards, numerous stage outfits, and a chronological reconstruction, through a collection of documents, that recalls his life and glittering career between Europe and the United States, where he fled during the Twenty Years Fascist period. The itinerary is further divided into thematic areas, such as one dedicated to his relationship with La Scala theater, with records and, of course, with Parma.
H 7:30 p.m.: sitting down for an aperitivo with typical products
Among the things to do in Parma in a day, you cannot miss, at the end of the very long exploratory tour, an aperitivo with drinks.
At the favorite time of day for young Parmens, we suggest you to look for a place among the countless venues located in the center, especially on Strada Farini, near the university. Between trendy cafes and wine bars, you can immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of the locals and enjoy generous platters of many specialties, such as the ever-present cold cuts, culatello and prosciutto crudo above all, Parmigiano and many other delicacies to be accompanied by torta fritta, the local “sister” of the gnocco fritto of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Of course, everything should be tasted together with a fresh and delicious cocktail, such as the ever-present Spritz, or a glass of Lambrusco or Malvasia, some of the most popular Emilian wines.
What to do in a day in Parma: alternatives within a few kilometers
The sun has now gone down and the wandering day around the city has come to an end. Our Parma in a Day itinerary was limited to covering the old city center and some of the iconic places that can be easily reached by foot or bicycle, but if you should have more than 24 hours to spend in this area you can certainly find much more interesting.
For example, you could look for the famous Certosa, the protagonist of Stendhal's novel, and located about 4 kilometers away from the city, or visit the several dislocated food museums in the province, such as the Prosciutto Museum in Langhirano or the Pasta Museum in Collecchio, or you could move to the Parco dei Cento Laghi on the border with Liguria, to breathe clean air and enjoy the surrounding nature.
Parma, in short, lends itself to all your needs and is able to satisfy your curiosity in the round: all you have to do is choose it for your next getaway.
Visit the Prosciutto Museum ❯
