Parma

Our most recommended things to do in Parma

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  1. From Parma: Parmesan, Parma Ham & Balsamic Vinegar Tour

  The day begins with departure from Parma at 8:45 AM. Head toward the highlands and visit an authentic cheese dairy of Parmigiano-Reggiano (Parmesan) PDO with a local host at 9 AM. This historical producer began in 1846 and is one of the few that operates with the full production cycle from grass to cows to milk to cheese. Discover how the “King of Cheeses” is still made just as it was centuries ago by the monks who invented it. See its handmade production, the salt pools, and the “wheel cathedral,” a big aging room with real walls of cheese made up of up to 20,000 cheese wheels. At 10:30 AM, transfer to the province of Reggio-Emilia to admire a real acetaia (vinegar cellar) housing ancient barrels of traditional balsamic vinegar. Learn the difference between the "black gold" and the balsamic condiments that you usually find in the supermarkets. At the end of the visit, savor a...

  There is no guide on this tour. Only a driver who does not offer and info and then each stop provides a guide.it worked fine. We arrived at the parma ham facility and the were on lunch break so we did not see it in action. Still our guide was very informative.

  Reviewed by Anonymous, 9/16/2021
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  2. Parma: Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese Tour

  Learn the origins of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese throughout a visit to a cheese factory in Parma. Hear how this cheese, protected by the EU, is still produced following traditional methods. Exclusively made in the Zona Tipica of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, and parts of Bologna and Mantova, Parmesan cheese dates back over 9 centuries. Watch the cheese makers pull the product from the milk vats, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the process of cooking and separating the whey. You'll then visit the shaping and salting rooms, before going to the stagionatura where the cheese is aged. Savor the sight and smell of thousands of wheels of cheese, and learn about the strict tests performed by the Consorzio, such as hammering the cheeses before the fire-branding ritual. Finally, taste the delicious cheese accompanied by some honey and local wine.

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  3. From Parma: Parma Ham Farm Tour and Tasting

  Immerse yourself in the age-old traditions of Parma ham production on a guided tour and tasting at a ham farm. After getting picked up from your accommodation in Parma, make your way to the traditional farm. Here, meet your guide and set out to discover the secrets of the region's most famous delicacy. Explore the small organic farm, meet the producers, and learn everything there is to know about the entire process from farm to plate, from breeding and raising the pigs, to selecting and salting the fresh haunches, and visit the cooling, salting and resting rooms.  Then, visit the cellar branding areas, which are usually inaccessible to the public, where the "Naso" adds the fire branding of the twin crowns of Parma Ham, certifying the ham fit for the tables of the top restaurants of Parma, Italy, and the world. Finally, enjoy an expert-led tasting of the delicious hams, paired with loca...

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  4. Parma: Parmigiano and Prosciutto Guided Tour

  Meet your expert guide at Roadhouse Restaurant in Parma, on Viale delle Esposizioni. You will begin the culinary tour at an authentic producer of Parmigiano-Reggiano, discovering how the "King of all Cheeses" has been made in the same way since the Benedectine monks invented it centuries ago. You will see the making first-hand, as well as the walls of cheese, with a tasting at the end, of course. From there you will stop at the medieval village of Torrechiara for a photo opportunity by its romantic castle. Then, on to one of Parma's family-run ham factories producing the famous Prosciutto di Parma. Lunch will be based on the typical products of the region, at a farm-to-table restaurant: Parmigiano, Prosciutto as well as other kind of local cold cuts, a typical filled pasta dish (tortelli di Parma), and homemade cakes. All paired up with local wines like Lambrusco and Malvasia.

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  5. Parma: Traditional Food Tour

  With this gastronomic tour in Parma you can immerse yourself in the local gastronomic culture accompanied by a local expert, a person who lives here and who knows all the secrets and curiosities about the area. You will discover local restaurants and the most hidden places, frequented only by locals. Come and taste some of the most famous dishes of the Emilia- Romagna tradition and immerse yourself in the culinary and cultural traditions of this beautiful city. Some of the possible tastings on this tour include: a board of cold cuts, Parmigiano cheese, and glass of wine; Tortelli (egg pasta filled with differents ingredients); Carciofa (a delicious and cheesy quiche; Bomba di riso (a rice timbale seasoned with a meat sauce; and Cotechino with mashed potatoes (a typical sausage made with pork meat). You can also try a Duchessa cake – the typical Sunday dessert for local families, and en...

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  6. Bologna/Modena: Gastronomic Tour of the Parma Food Valley

  Discover the production of two excellences of Italian cuisine, Parmigiano Reggiano and Parma Hak, on a gastronomic tour from Bologna. After being picked up from your accommodation in Bologna or Modena, head to Italy's food capital declared as UNESCO Creative City for gastronomy since 2015. Learn more about Parma and its local cuisine that is so popular that it often ends up dominating conversations among locals. Visit the 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, get up close to the production of the famous Parma Ham. Learn the secrets of this Italian delicacy followed by a tasting paired with a glass of local wine.  Following the Parma Ham factory, your driver will take you to a local restaurant famous for its regional dishes. Here you can enjoy a two-cour...

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  7. Parma: Private Walking Tour w/ a Local Guide

  Join this private walking tour led by a local guide to discover the beautiful city of Parma. Discover the medieval epoch, the rich legacy of Renaissance art, the splendor of the Farnese era, the Bourbon reconstruction of the state, the happy period under the rule of the Duchess Maria Luigia of Austria and, finally, the contemporary era. Follow you guide and explore the church St. John the Evangelist, the central Piazza Duomo and its monuments, the Basilica of Santa Maria della Steccata. You'll also pass along the Teatro Regio, the Palazzo della Pilotta and the Palazzo Ducale and get to know their histories and importance in town through the words of your guide.

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  8. Parma: Modena Balsamic Vinegar Tasting Tour

  The tour starts with a view and a walking on the splendid 40-acre vineyards estate, before continuing with a visit of the rooms where this "black gold" is produced, aged, and preserved within ancient wooden barrels. You will then taste 3 traditional balsamic vinegar which are 15, 22, and 28 years old, combined with local delicacies. One of the finest of all food products originating from Emilia Romagna is traditional balsamic vinegar from the Modena and Parma area. It is made only from the Trebbiano grapevine. Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Reggio Emilia and of Modena is a real jewel for all foodies. It is a unique vinegar-based condiment as it is produced directly from grape juice. The liquid is then placed in wooden barrels and through an oxidation process over several years is transformed into the finest vinegar in the world. At the conclusion of your regional experience, you will b...

  We enjoyed this tour very much. From the minute we were whisked away in the ban, our family of 5 had fun chatting with our wonderful driver. When we arrived, the tour itself included many interesting facts about balsamic vinegar and the production process. We were able to see many different areas of the production facility as well. And of course, the tasting at the end was my favorite part!

  Reviewed by Anonymous, 8/30/2021
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  9. Parma: Fidenza Village, Parma City Center, and Food Tasting

  Discover the beautiful city center of Parma, Italy's Capital of Culture 2020 on this walking tour with local food tasting. Sample some local eats at quaint little food and wine shops. Meet your guide in the morning or afternoon and start exploring Parma's fantastic city center. Seek out small, traditional food and wine shops, enjoy tastings, and chat with the locals. Learn more about the history of Parma. From the 1000 year-old medieval district to the frescoes of the Renaissance artists in the domes, to the neoclassic Teatro Regio, the city's buildings represent many different periods in Italian history.

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  10. Parma: Parmesan, Culatello di Zibello, and Giuseppe Verdi

  Your experience begins at 8:45M with your departure from Parma's town square towards the Lowlands. Once there, meet with your local host and visit the authentic cheese dairy of the Parmigiano-Reggiano PDO. Discover how the "king of all cheese" is still made the same way it was centuries ago, back when the Benedectine monks invented it. Observe the workers crafting the products by hand, the salt pools, the wheel cathedral, and a big ageing room containing real walls of cheese. Following that, visit a unique farm which boasts its own fruit and vegetable cultivation and breeds an ancient breed of black pig. You then visit Antica Corte Pallavicina, a medieval court where can admire the brand-new Museum of Culatello di Zibello PDO. Learn about the history and the making of this amazing product in a dedicated educational room, and discover the aging cellars which date back to the 13th century...