Experience
Italy

BUCKET LIST TRAVEL : PARMA

Gastronomy, architecture and classical music

In this Emilia-Romagna city with a rich architectural heritage, something unique lies on every street corner, like its impressive baptistery in red Verona marble and its ducal palace, the Pilotta. The city is also famous worldwide for its Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and operas.

LEARN EVERYTHING ABOUT OPERA

Parma and opera have a long-standing history. For four centuries, local composers and musicians like Verdi and Toscanini made the city a global leader. Watching an opera at the Teatro Regio is a must.

Visiting the three museums of the Casa della Musica (house of music) gives you a better understanding of the unbreakable ties between this northern Italian city and its musicians.

In the Palazzo Cusani, the first museum is the Museo dell’Opera (museum of opera), which exhibits all sorts of objects, photos, posters and videos that retrace the history of Italian opera. There’s a particular focus on Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901). Outdoor music events are hosted in the summer months. In the afternoon, when an opera is taking place that evening, the singers open the second-floor windows of the Casa della Musica and perform a piece accompanied by piano.

The second museum is Casa del Suono (house of sound). Located in a former church, it aims to showcase the evolution of music technology, from the gramophone to the iPod. Find out what it takes to become a music star, at least in theory. Finish your experience at the house where the conductor Arturo Toscanini (1867–1957) was born, in the Oltretorrente neighbourhood. Classical music concerts often take place inside the museums, with the programme available on the Casa della Musica website.

Must-sees in Parma

PALAZZO DELLA PILOTTA

In the city’s old town, the Palazzo della Pilotta is a ducal palace built by the Farnese family in the 16^th and 17^th centuries. It houses many works of art in its National Gallery, an archaeological museum and a splendid wooden theatre. It’s named after the games of Basque pelota that were once played there.

PARMA CATHEDRAL

This Italian Romanesque cathedral is famous for the treasure within its walls: the Assumption of the Virgin fresco adorns the cathedral’s dome, painted by Correggio between 1526 and 1530. This spiral design, which you have to look up to see, depicts the passage from earth to heaven.

THE BAPTISTERY

Besides the cathedral, The Baptistery of Parma is a pink marble tower celebrating baptisms in the Christian tradition. Constructed in the 13^th century and dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, it faces Parma’s cathedral and the episcopal palace. It’s well worth a visit: its interior is completely covered with fresco murals.

THE DUCAL PALACE AND PARK

The Farnese family are responsible for this building, having built it as a residence in 1564. Their palace is now the headquarters of the Carabinieri police force. Its gardens offer an oasis of greenery for visitors who come to relax beneath the trees and beside the lake.

THE TEATRO REGIO

The sombre facade sharply contrasts with the lavish interior of this opera house, which is amongst the most prestigious in Italy. It holds the Festival Verdi every October in honour of the famous composer born near Parma. Besides the performances here, guided tours allow you to discover its secrets.