Parma is an Italian metropolis in the Emilia-Romagna region. It was probably founded by the Etruscans, and in the year 183 BC Rome established a colony here. They established a forum as the center of the city, and Parma of that time obtained the title of Julia in the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, Parma became an important stop on the road between Rome and Northern Europe, and new buildings were constructed. Over the following many centuries, Parma was part of changing kingdoms, before in 1860 the city became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

There are many sights in Parma’s old town, which is along the banks of the Parma River. Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi is the modern and bustling center. In the square you can see the Palazzo del Governatore, which was built as a trading house in the 13th century. Later it got its current name as the seat of the capitano del popolo and the governor. In the center of the mansion stands the city’s beautiful bell tower, which in its current form was built in 1763. On the opposite side of the square is the Palazzo del Comune Palazzo del Podestà, built 1221-1240. Over time, these two mansions have been the seat of the city’s mayor and administration.

In the center you will also find the square Piazza del Duomo on a stroll through Parma’s cozy streets. Here you can see the city’s impressive cathedral and the free-standing baptistery. The cathedral was built from the year 1059 and over the following centuries. The church interior is beautifully decorated with frescoes by Antonio da Correggio. The baptistery was built 1196-1216 and was particularly beautifully decorated with frescoes on the walls and in the dome. After a visit to the cathedral, you can see the church of San Giovanni Evangelista just behind the cathedral. The church dates from 1490-1519, and you can also see works by Antonio da Correggio here.

There are many more churches worth seeing in Parma, and there are several other interesting things to see and visit in the old town. You can e.g. see the Teatro Regio opera stage and the Teatro Farnese from 1618, one of the few surviving Renaissance theaters in the world. The theater is in the building complex Palazzo della Pilotta, where you can also visit Parma’s national archaeological museum and the art museum Galleria nazionale di Parma, which has a fine collection with works by e.g. Leonardo da Vinci, Anthony van Dyck, El Greco and Antonio Correggio. Close by, you can take a walk in the large and beautifully landscaped park, Parco Ducale.