Top Parma Art & Culture

Visitors will have the opportunity to climb up the highest medieval masonry tower in Europe to admire the surrounding panorama and during the ascent will be able to visit the rooms of the Vertical Museum dedicated to measuring time and its perception by man with interesting reproductions of watches and instruments used in antiquity as well as multimedia contents. This tour includes a visit to the Baptistery, home to the Museo delle Pietre Romaniche della Cattedrale, where some magnificent medieval sculptures are kept.

Cremona has a long history of violin-making. On this tour of the Academia Cremonensis, located in the historical Palazzo Mina Bolzesi, you won’t just explore the city’s musical heritage—you’ll see craftspeople at work making violins and bows according to the centuries-old Stradivarius technique. Learn more about the ins and outs of this storied craft, and enjoy the rare opportunity to meet the makers themselves.

It’s not every day that you can see a rare Stradivarius violin. With a ticket to Cremona’s Violin Museum, you can admire a number of these instruments crafted by Antonio Stradivari in the 17th century along with other historic instruments. Learn about the history and production of violins, as well as the techniques used by Cremona’s most famous master luthier to create his legendary instruments, with an audio guide.

The construction of the Baptistery began in March 1167. The dimensions are considerable: 34 meters high and 20.50 meters in diameter. The Romanesque-style building has an octagonal plan and is crowned by an elegant gallery. It originally had 3 gates: to the north, south and east; the last two were closed in 1592. The north door, which overlooks the square, is framed by a porch with two column-bearing lions, similar to the porch of the adjacent Cathedral. The executive technique of the brick vault anticipated that of Brunelleschi's dome in Florence by about two centuries. The light inside filters through a double series of superimposed mullioned windows and the lamp placed on the top of the dome. At the center stands the large octagonal cistern: a monolithic block of red Verona marble, crowned by a small statue of the Risen Christ. The three altars inside are dedicated to the Madonna Addolorata, to the Crucifix and to S. Biagio.

The visit includes the exterior of the Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo della Pilotta, Teatro Farnese (visitable only during the afternoon visit), Piazza Ghiaia, Ponte Romano, exterior of the oratory of San Quirino, exterior of the University Palace, exterior of the Music Conservatory "Arrigo Boito", outside the Palazzo delle Orsoline and the Church of San Rocco, Piazza Garibaldi, entrance inside the Church of Santa Maria della Steccata, outside the Teatro Regio, exterior of the Palazzo di Riserva, Piazza Duomo, entrance to the Cathedral and outside of the Baptistery. The meeting is in front of the entrance to the Ducal Park (Via Farnese - Strada delle Fonderie, intersection with Ponte Verdi).

Explore Parma’s unique and delicious cuisine and culture on a 3-hour walking tour. Explore local spots and hidden gems as you sample and learn about Parmigiano-Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, culatello di Zibello, Aceto balsamico tradizionale. Visit some of the city’s landmarks including the Cathedral, Pilotta Palace, and the San Giovanni Church as you walk around the city.

The Torrazzo is in effect one of the monuments that best symbolizes the city of Cremona: it is in fact the highest medieval brick bell tower in Europe (about 112.22 m). Its structure exemplifies the extreme accuracy of ancient construction techniques and is considered a perfect combination of extremely different architectural styles. Thanks to the recent opening of the new Vertical Museum, some themes related to the study of the clock are examined in depth. Inside the 4 new rooms you can find some curious historical objects and the reconstruction of some antique clocks. There is also a fantastic installation of Foucault's Pendulum. Its oscillation demonstrates the rotation of the Earth from a scientific point of view. At the top of the tower you can admire a wonderful view of the city and the surrounding landscape.

Only 50 kilometers south of Parma, you will experience a time travel back to the Medieval age. At the heart of the enchanting Ceno valley lies the small but characteristic village of Bardi, overlooked by a perfectly mantained fortress. The wonders of history and nature will be accompanied by the gastronomic excellence of the area: Parmigiano cheese, whose production and exquisite taste will be widely explained during a private visit to a local dairy factory.

Italian cuisine is loved across the world for its focus on fresh ingredients and big flavors. On this tour, visit traditional cheese, meat, and balsamic vinegar producers across Parma, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Reggio-Emilia, and learn of the passion and pride than goes in to Italian food. With lunch and round-trip travel from central Parma included, savor the diverse flavors of Italy.

Franco Maria Ricci, a well-known art publisher and philanthropist, has made his dream come true: the largest labyrinth in the world, entirely made of bamboo plants, stands now in the middle of the sweet countryside of Parma, guarding the art collection he has gathered in more than fifty years. At the heart of this, a gourmet bistrot and gorgeous suites will give you the experience of an unusual, unforgettable overnight stay. A private driver will be at your disposal for transfers and simply to visit the surroundings. Take the chance of getting lost in Beauty.

Combine culture and cuisine with this tour that stops at both a Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano producer for a tour and tasting, as well as the 15th-century Torrechiara Castle. Learn how two of Parma’s gourmet specialties are produced and enjoy tastings of both paired with local wine. End your day with a stop at the medieval Castello di Torrechiara, with free time to explore on your own.

Cremona, the city of violins, Stradivari, Torrone nougat and much more! Through this full day tour we will discover its history and its most important monuments. Train tickets are included in order to get to the city. Leave from Milan Central Station at 8.20 am ( we will send you the train tickets) . You will reach Cremona in one hour. Once in Cremona you will meet our Professional Guide and you will walk through Corso Garibaldi street, to reach The City Hall, the main Cathedral, also called the Sistine Chapel of northern Italy, and the vertical museum hosted in the local bell tower, the so called Torrazzo (112 meter high ). Then you will experience the musical culture of the city with an interactive visit to the Violin Museum. Free time for shopping and lunch. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the historical shops of the old town and to buy the delicious Torrone, the traditional dessert. At 5.30 you will get the train back to Central Station and at 6.40 PM you will be in Milan.

The name of Parma is well known all around the world, for both its culinary and art treasures. An exclusive guided tour will allow you to discover them all, in just one day. From Langhirano, seat of the Museum of Parma ham, you will reach a ham factory where you will witness the production process, based on an ancient and unchanging knowledge. After a rich tasting of local delicacies, you will get back to the historical heart of Parma, where a majestic Cathedral and a gorgeous Baptistry dominate the skyline of the small, yet charming capital of taste and beauty.

Parma the City of Perfume is an exclusive opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of the city and discover, through an olfactory journey, the tradition of perfume and the protagonists of its supply chain in Parma from 1816 to 2020. The greenhouses of the Ducal Park introduce us to the discovery of the famous Violetta di Parma. Numerous traces of Maria Luigia of Austria’s predilection for the violet can be found inside the Glauco Lombardi Museum. The visit to Violetta di Parma 1930 shop allows us to retrace the life of Ludovico Borsari and the birth of the perfume that later became a symbol of the city and the Duchess. We will visit an Acqua di Parma Flagship Store to get to know the brand from its origins to new variations and discover the history of the companies of the Parma perfume supply chain, which arose many years ago in small laboratories, to grow to the point to have become some of the major references worldwide for perfumery packaging, bottles, caps and labels.

Prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham) is one of Parma’s flagship gourmet specialties, and you’ll enjoy an inside look at how this prestigious cured ham is created on this farm tour. Learn about the history of this traditional charcuterie and its stages of production from fresh pork through the salting and curing processes from your guide. End your visit with a prosciutto tasting, paired with local Malvasia wine.

Start of the tour at Palazzo del Podestà, in the heart of ancient Parma, dominated by civic buildings of medieval foundation, the guided tour continues along the ancient Roman cardo towards Piazza del Duomo, one of the most harmonious and best preserved squares in Italy. In this spectacular setting, testimony to the long history of Parma since the early Christian epoch, we will visit the solemn Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, a jewel of Romanesque art, the Bishop's Palace which houses the Diocesan Museum with original masterpieces by Benedetto Antelami, who is also the designer of the magnificent Baptistery of San Giovanni, an absolute medieval masterpiece of architecture, sculpture and painting.

Two architectural wonders lie in the middle of Parma countryside, a few kilometers distant from each other. The first is Rocca Sanvitale, a fortress standing in the middle of the village of Fontanellato, gradually become a pleasure residence for the ancient family who has owned it for more than six centuries. The latter is the largest labyrinth in the world, dreamed and constructed by Franco Maria Ricci, a publisher and philanthropist whose astonishing art collection is kept in a gallery, at ht heart of the labyrinth itself. A whole day, to find your own path through beauty.

• 3-hour Segway tour lead by an expert local guide • See top Parma attractions including: we will start seeing Pilotta Palace, a monumental complex of buildings commissioned by the Farnese family. We will then head to Piazza S. Francesco: Casa del Suono (Sound House), a museum dedicated to the history and evolution of the equipments to reproduce and transmit music. We will then reach the monastic complex of St. John the Evangelist, before to visit Piazza Duomo. We will then pass through the focal point of city life, Piazza Garibaldi, and we will visit the Church of the Steccata. After a stroll along the river Parma we will arrive at the Teatro Regio. At the end of the tour we will cross the river to reach the green area of Ducal Garden, where we will end our tour. • Hear tales of colorful history from a knowledgeable guide • Enjoy a Segway sightseeing tour that’s suitable for all fitness levels • Small-group tour with a maximum of eight people ensures a personalized experience

Giuseppe Verdi and Arturo Toscanini have made Parma great for opera lovers all around the world. This exclusive tour celebrates the places where this tradition has born and still lives, together with the outstanding pieces of art and architecture that compose the unique harmony of the Small Paris of Emilia.

A day to discover the "lower Parma area", the area where the presence of the Po river and the lowland fog influence the seasoning of the king of cured meats: the Culatello. During the tour we will visit an ancient Renaissance castle, transformed into the seat of taste par excellence by a Michelin-starred chef. From the visit of some rooms rich in furniture and elegant furnishings, you will go to the vegetable garden, to the suggestive underground cellars, where the seasoning of thousands of culatelli takes place, many of which are reserved for V.I.P. and political and entertainment figures. From the museum dedicated to the pig, where you will learn the history of breeding and production, you will go to the kitchens, for a private lesson, "with a rolling pin" to learn the art of the typical fresh Emilian pasta. Following tasting and lunch.

See the main highlights of the city centre of Parma combined with multiple tastings in typical delis, street-food and pastry shops/ice cream shops for a total of 3 stops. You’ll discover why Parma has been recognized by U.N.E.S.C.O. as the first and only Creative City of Gastronomy in Italy and Italian Capital of Culture 2020 as well.

There are many virtues in the province of Parma, a territory with a strong identity and rich in traditions. It is a pleasure to meet and discover every aspect of it: a set of emotions that can make you fall in love even after a single glance.

An unconventional walking tour of the UNESCO Italian Creative city of gastronomy, a perfect match of art and taste. From the ground floor vaults of the Town Hall, still called Corn Porticoes, a "fil rouge" connects to the Cathedral, the Baptistry and to the Church of Santa Maria della Steccata, together with some remarkable "gastronomy boutiques". Parma ham, Anolini and Parmigiano will delight your palate, while the gorgeous frescoes by Correggio and Parmigianino will feed your soul. All mixed up in a unique, immersive experience.

With one hour sightseeing tour in the center of Parma, you will have an unusual and fun experience to discover the historic city. Come aboard the rickshaw and let yourself be fascinated by Parma.