Touring Parma, Italy!

Parma local as well as a food and wine critic, Andrea Grignaffini tells readers all about his favourite locations around Parma! He talks about food stops, centuries old buildings, night life and more.

Food:

Grignaffini lists off some go to meat and cheese shops on Piazza Ghiaia, a marketplace found near the Parma River:

• Cibivari is a bakery and deli that makes focaccia and aubergine parmigiana using local and fresh seasonal produce.
• Inkiostro creates a wonderful fine dining experience with vegetarian options, run by a young chef named Salvatore Morello.
• Da Antonia has a typical Italian feel to it, come at lunch to enjoy traditional Italian dishes.

Attractions:

Grignaffini grew up in Parma and fondly remembers when “my father took me to mass when I was a child” (Grignaffini, 2022) at the Basilica di Santa Maria della Steccata, known for its beautiful interior. Along with this he recommends seeing the monastery known as Chiostri di San Giovanni and to see a concert at Teatro Farnese.

Neighbourhood:

The city is divided by the Parma River, one side is for tourism, with a historical center; the other side is the working portion of the city where you can find: older residents, teenagers, artists, and students. Every Saturday there is a food market in Strada Imbriani where farmers sell their fresh produce.

Green Space:

In the center of Parma you can find the Parco Ducale which is a landscaped park with a lovely lake. However, Grignaffini’s spot of choice is called Orto Botanico which is more of a garden with a section for medicinal plants and a glass house created in 1793. About 6 miles out of Parma there is the Parco Fluviale del Taro which captures Parmas beautiful countryside.

Nightlife:

Parma is not known for a wild nightlife however, just south of Piazza Garibaldi, one can find a stretch of bars including Tabarro with has a wide selection of wines. A common place to go to chat and drink wine is at OsteMagno, located in Piazza Pilotta.

Where to Stay:

In order to enjoy all of these must see places in Parma, you need a place to stay! Grignaffini suggests the Palazzo dalla Rosa Prati.

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