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Parma Culture & history

Our most recommended Parma Culture & history

Parma: Prosciutto Di Parma (Parma Ham) Museum Ticket

1. Parma: Prosciutto Di Parma (Parma Ham) Museum Ticket

Visit the Parma Museum of Prosciutto and Cured Meat Products, located in the massive edifice of the former cattle market in Langhirano, the fatherland of Parma Prosciutto. The cattle market is an attraction in itself; the result of an urban renewal process designed to bring touristic and cultural attractions to the area along the River Parma. Learn the significance that this cattle market holds for the city of Parma and learn how the city has transformed in the past years. Throughout the exhibition, discover the cultural and historical significance of His Majesty the Parma Prosciutto. This prosciutto is a true treat to the palette, one that shouldn't just be tasted, but truly savored. Learn the process that results in the exquisite flavors and quality that Prosciutto of Parma is known for today. Those who wish to taste the Prosciutto of Parma may choose to add a tasting to their entry ticket.

From Bologna or Modena: Parma Gastronomic Tour with Lunch

2. From Bologna or Modena: Parma Gastronomic Tour with Lunch

Discover the production of two excellences of Italian cuisine, Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma Ham, on a gastronomic tour from Bologna. After being picked up from your accommodation in Bologna or Modena Learn more about Parma and its local cuisine that is so popular that it often ends up dominating conversations among locals. Visit a historic Parmigiano Reggiano factory where an expert guide will show you the stages of production, and you'll be able to taste some of the cheese made by the factory. Then, discover more about the production of Parma Ham. Learn the secrets of this Italian delicacy followed by a tasting paired with a glass of local wine.  Following your visit to the Parma Ham factory, enjoy a light lunch at a prosciuttificio with typical products and dishes. Finally, head back to your accommodation in Bologna or Modena.

From Milan: Parma and Bologna Private Day Trip

3. From Milan: Parma and Bologna Private Day Trip

Enjoy a Private Tour of Parma and Bologna from Milan for twelve hours with a private tour guide for two hours in each city and a private luxury vehicle with a chauffeur that will pick you up and drop you off from your hotel in Milan. Once your private chauffeur has picked you up, besides your private tour guide you will go ahead to your first destination. You will discover Parma, a city in the north of Italy that has remarkable medieval architecture and beautiful forests surrounding it. Your private tour guide will show you the tourist attractions of the city such as the cathedral with Romanesque style, the opera house Teatro, the Baptistery with Romanesque and Gothic styles and much more. When you finish visiting Parma you will go ahead to your destination, Bologna which is one of the best-preserved historic cities and has one of the largest medieval old towns in Europe. You will visit as well the tourist attractions of Bologna such as the two medieval famous towers, the Piazza Maggiore, the Basilica of San Petronio known for being one of the largest churches in existence, the basilica of San Francisco known for being a Gothic church and much more. After visiting the two cities, your private chauffeur will drop you off at your hotel in Milan or your place of preference inside the city.

Sala Baganza: Wine Museum Ticket

4. Sala Baganza: Wine Museum Ticket

Enjoy learning about the history of Italian winemaking and immerse yourself in local wine culture with this ticket to Wine Museum in Sala Baganza. Have the option to include a winetasting experience at the end of your museum visit.  Visit six different sections from the archeology of wine in the Parma area. Uncover the secrets of local viticulture. Watch as the characteristics of the vine, the harvesting and making of wine is revealed to you.   See exhibits like a Renaissance icebox, old wine containers. Learn the history of the cork stopper, corkscrew, and wine labels. Find out about wine pioneers and hear about which wineries you should visit.  Feel the thrill of descending into the cellars of the Sala Baganza castle, where wine has been aged for centuries. 

Polesine Parmense: Culatello di Zibello Museum Ticket

5. Polesine Parmense: Culatello di Zibello Museum Ticket

Explore the Culatello di Zibello Ham Museum located beside the Antica Corte Pallavicina complex in Polesine Parmense. Learn about the history and cultivation of this delicious cured meat known across the world. You can also enjoy an optional tasting, or a visit to the nearby historic castle. Upon arrival, admire the surrounding environment, the poplar groves, and the River Po. Head first into the basement for an introduction into the world of Culatello. Learn about the primary ingredients of the production of this delicacy. Learn about the precious salt of Salsomaggiore, and the pepper with its origins from historic trading links in the Far East. Head next to the gallery of Culatello with fine examples of the finished product. If you select the option when booking, you can enter the Hosteria room to enjoy some delicious samples of the ham. You can also access the Antica Corte Pallavicina, known as the Palace of the Two Towers.

Parma: Tomato Museum Ticket with Optional Tasting

6. Parma: Tomato Museum Ticket with Optional Tasting

Pre-book an entry ticket to uncover the story of the tomato at the Tomato Museum in Parma. Travel back in time from its arrival in the 16th century from faraway Americas to the first tentative gastronomic approach. Discover vintage photographs, rare movies, interactive screens, author's recipes, and more. Savor the taste of Italian Pomodoro with an optional add-on. Learn about the arrival of the tomato in Europe in the 16th century and its subsequent spread in food culture. Existing varieties, nutritional properties, and production areas will be explained. Witness the development of the processing industry from dry products to preserves, concentrates to purees, and ready-made sauces to drinkable juices. See the development of production technologies with the reconstruction of a production line for tomato paste made with 14 vintage machines. Admire an exhibition of over 100 original vintage tins and the vibrant communication and promotion material of more than 70 brands active at the beginning of the twentieth century in the Parma region. Explore a space dedicated to the Experimental Station of the Canning and Food Industry established in 1922, and the Exhibition of Canning, a vital showcase of the Parma industry and progenitor of today's Cibus. Discover the culture of the Tomato World with advertisements, quotations, paintings, sculptures, and recipes based on tomatoes, arriving at gastronomy, with the marriage of pasta and pizza.

Frequently asked questions about Parma Culture & history

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Other Sightseeing Options in Parma

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What people are saying about Parma

Incredible tour of an authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese factory and a wonderful tour of a family owned Parma Ham factory in the hills. Our driver Francesco was very friendly, professional, and polite offering dinner suggestions on the way home. Everyone from both factories were very friendly and welcoming as well. We thoroughly enjoyed the tours and loved the traditional Italian lunch that followed. Highly recommend

Small but very nice museum about the process of the pasta and its many varieties. Nice to see what those molds look like for those different types of pasta. You can also enjoy a delicious meal in the restaurant.

Small but very particular and detailed museum. Also valid is the sale of Parmesan cheese made by their dairy as there are forms aged up to 55 months.

Really a cool trip with great local guides from the various local producers.

Excellent tasting to spend a different Sunday lunch than usual