Parma in one day: four legs and sweets you cannot miss

Can you visit Parma in one day? This incredible city is extremely rich in history and culture and boasts numerous artistic and architectural gems, which tell of its splendid past. To appreciate them all, it would be ideal to spend at least a weekend in the city, strolling through the charming center characterized by intimate squares and typically medieval alleys.

But if you only have 24 hours to stop in the “petite capital”, here are the points of interest that you absolutely must not miss. Depart with us for a suggestive tour through art, history and (of course) great food!

Piazza del Duomo and the Baptistery

First stop is the splendid Piazza Del Duomo, which, in addition to the imposing Cathedral, houses the Baptistery, the Diocesan Museum and the Bishop’s Palace. To get there, you will get away from the city traffic and walk through narrow, quaint lanes, eventually arriving at a harmonious, quiet, and composed rectangular space that is typically medieval.

Stop to admire, in particular, the Baptistery, a true masterpiece of Romanesque-Gothic architecture: an imposing octagonal construction in pink marble designed by Benedetto Antelami in the late 12th century, rich in deep spiritual meanings in its decorations that run along the facade, from the southern (of Life) to the western (of the Last Judgment) portal.

You can also visit it inside, discovering the fascinating cycle of months and seasons sculpted by Antelami himself. It is open from November to February from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, in the remaining months, from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. An interesting fact: did you know that in ancient times, the baptismal font was fed by a stream? 🙂

The Church of Steccata

© Constantinian Order of St. George

A few steps from Piazza del Duomo, the Basilica of Santa Maria della Steccata tells a story of popular devotion: it takes its name from the fence that it was necessary to build around an image of the Madonna to protect it from the many faithful who came here to pray.

© Constantinian Order of St. George

Inside this jewel of the Renaissance, you can admire Parmigianino‘s last splendid work before he succumbed to madness: it is the fresco “The Wise Virgins and the Foolish Virgins,” which embellishes the dome of the Presbytery by telling in pictures the parable of the ten virgins. The Church of Steccata can be visited every day from 7.30 am to noon and from 3.00 pm to 6.30 pm.

The masterpieces of the National Gallery

Another absolutely not to be missed stop on a tour of Parma is the National Gallery, located inside the famous Palazzo Pilotta. Here you will find a vast exhibition of works by the greatest painters from the thirteenth to the nineteenth century, organized according to a dual criterion, chronological and geographical.

© By kind permission of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism – Pilotta Monumental Complex

Particular space is devoted to great masters including Leonardo, Beato Angelico, Correggio, Parmigianino, Van Dyck and El Greco, to name a few.The Gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 8.30 am to 7.00 pm, on Sundays from 8.30 am to 2.00 pm.

The Chamber of St. Paul

© By kind permission of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism – Polo Museale dell ‘Emilia Romagna

Then, among the sights of Parma, you cannot miss the Camera di San Paolo, or Camera della Badessa, a Renaissance room that is part of the former monastery of the Benedictine nuns and was painted by Correggio around 1518. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 8.30 am to 2.00 pm and on the first Sunday of each month from 8.30 am to 1.30 pm, it is closed on the remaining Sundays, Mondays and public holidays.

To end on a tasty note – prosciutto crudo di Parma!

© Salumeria Garibaldi

After you’ve filled your eyes with beauty, think about delighting your palate as well! At Salumeria Garibaldi, a place with an ancient tradition in the heart of the city, you can taste the legendary Parma ham, a typical product of the territory that tells its history and embellishes its tradition. A genuine cured meat with an unmistakable taste, made sweet by natural curing: here you can enjoy it in the most suitable setting!

Salumeria Garibaldi
via Garibaldi, 42
tel. 0521 235606

Reach Parma with Itabus

Emilia Romagna is a beautiful land and with Italo, you can visit it far and wide. If the sights of Reggio Emilia can be reached by high-speed rail, in Parma (as well as in and around Modena) you arrive by Itabus, Italo’s bus service that provides daily connections between Parma and Reggio Emilia’s high-speed rail Mediopadana station.

Some examples? Rome to Parma in 3 hours and 30 minutes, Naples-Parma in 5 hours, without ever stressing out behind the wheel :)Get on board and get ready to be amazed by the beauty of the “Paris of Italy”!