Situated in the Po valley, Parma is in the Emilia-Romagna Region, in the north-east of Italy and was founded by the Romans in 183 BC. It is a city of 198.496 inhabitants.
The birthplace of Giuseppe Verdi and Arturo Toscanini, it also has a territory rich in villages and castles. Parma, since 2015, has been “Unesco Creative City for Gastronomy” as the place of origin of products that identify Italian excellence in the world, such as Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma.
The historic center is marked by three major poles: Piazza Garibaldi, partly the site of the Roman forum, the center of municipal life where the Governor’s Palace stands; Piazza Duomo, where the city’s highest artistic-religious expressions stand with the Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption; and Piazza della Pilotta, now Piazzale della Pace, the symbol of ducal power with the Complesso Monumentale della Pilotta, the ancient palace of the Farnese family’s service.
Parma also became Italian Capital of Culture 2020+21 thanks in part to a candidacy built on the theme of “time,” its regeneration through culture, its ability to pace the life of the city and break down historical and social barriers through processes of sharing and growth.
