In which quarter house in Parme?

Parma, the charms of Italy, the plain of the Po and Emilia-Romagna: in which area are staying in Parma?

Located in the region of Emilia-Romagna between Milan and Bologna , Parma is a city in the north centre of Italy. World known for its dairy productions – parmesan, amonggiano and the ham of Parma, prosciutto di Parma - the city of Parma has a historical and cultural heritage rich of several millennia. From Etruscan origin Parma was Roman from 183 BC, then Byzantine (at the 6th century), and Lombardy, before being attached to the kingdom of Italy in 1861. Today, the city of Parma counts 195 222 inhabitants, making it, after Bologna, the second largest city in the region. In addition, being one of the homes of the artistic Renaissance as well as one of the cradles of Italian cultural life – especially with regard to classical music and opera –, Parma was called in the 18th century “Athens of Italy”. G. Verdi and many artists – writers, painters, musicians, film actors – were born there. As often in Italy, sleeping in Parma will be expensive, but we can find relatively cheap accommodations where to stay in Parma in advance (accommodation at home and youth hostels).

Come visit Parma instead between April and September, the winters being cold and the hot summers. Here's our presentation to help you know better in which area to stay in Parme.

Historic Centre

Parma would have been a centre already inhabited during the Bronze Age, so long before the Roman Empire. It became a Roman colony in 183 BC, the city of Parma grows: its current urban nucleus dates from the Roman era, concentrated to play a role in the exchanges with Rome, near Via Emilia. The current city centre is surrounded by boulevards on the eastern shores of the Parma River. The main square of the historic center is, as often in Italy, the Place du Dôme ( Piazza Duomo ). The Cathedral of the Dome was built in the 11th century and represents an example of the Lombard Romanesque art in Emilia-Romagna. In the city centre, about thirty museums covering all periods of the history of painting, music and science are to be visited.

If you also like architecture, you will be filled because the historic centre houses an incredible architectural and cultural heritage, with buildings looking at it: the Palazzo del Governatore , Place Garibaldi, the Baptistery of Parma, etc. Along the way strada della Repubblica , we find the den for shopping: we find everything there. It is the “holy” of groceries, cheese shops, and violet sweets, shoes, perfumes (including the famous perfumer Acqua di Parma), trendy clothes, jewelry, vintage (via Garibaldi and via Azeglio), antiques (autour de Bogo Tommasini and via Nazario Sauro). To stay in Parma, aim for accommodation around the Parma River and the Viale Mentana, to enjoy an optimal position: close to cultural sites, shops and restaurants.

The western quarters of Parme

The left bank of the torrent Parma is a student area, where you find universities and campuses. The area therefore attracts students, choose to stay in Parma-Ouest if you are looking for young neighborhoods. If the historic centre can appeal to those who love the commercial and modern neighbourhoods, we will find more in the western part of bookstores, academic libraries, small cinemas and small neighborhood cafes, cultural centres and of course restaurants. You will have understood it, to stay in Parma depends on what you wish and this neighborhood will have more the bobo-artistic-cultural soul than tourist (at the sight of ancient monuments) and merchant.

Main photo credit: Flickr – Gio.april