We left Bologna this morning and headed to Parma for a two-night stay. Once checked into our hotel, we walked to the historic old town for a look around.
Before we went to see any of the attractions, we needed to et some lunch, so we found an outdoor cafe. As we were in Parma, I wanted to sample the food it is famous for: prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham) and parmigiano reggiano (Parmesan cheese). I had a tasty plate of both, along with a glass of chianti.
After lunch we walked to the Parma Cathedral and the adjacent Baptistry. We bought a couple of tickets that provide entry to the Baptistry, the Diocesan Museum, the Stuard Gallery and the Ducal Palace, for a combined price of 8 euros. As we bought the tickets at the Diocesan Museum, we had a quick look in there first. Not a lot of interest for us, to be honest, so we weren’t in there for long.
Next up was the Baptistry, an octagonal building of pink marble that dates back to 1196 (completed in 1270). It is said to be one of the most important medieval buildings in Europe.
After the Baptistry, we checked out the Cathedral where admission is free.
As we walked along Garibaldi Street, I saw this interesting monument to the partisan resistance fighters who liberated Parma from the Germans in World War II.
Further along Garibaldi Street we found a great little shop that sells hams, salami and cheeses (including parmigiano that has been aged for four years).
