Parma

Parma (Italian pronunciation: [ˈparma] (About this soundlisten); Emilian: Pärma, pronounced [‘pːè(r)ma]) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its architecture, music, art, prosciutto (ham), cheese and surrounding countryside.

With a population of 198,292 inhabitants, Parma is the second most populous city in Emilia-Romagna after Bologna, the region’s capital. The city is home to the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world. Parma is divided into two parts by the stream of the same name. The district on the far side of the river is Oltretorrente. Parma’s Etruscan name was adapted by Romans to describe the round shield called Parma.

The Italian poet Attilio Bertolucci (born in a hamlet in the countryside) wrote: “As a capital city it had to have a river. As a little capital it received a stream, which is often dry”, with reference to the time when the city was capital of the independent Duchy of Parma.

Parma was already a built-up area in the Bronze Age. In the current position of the city rose a terramare.[4] The “terramare” (marl earth) were ancient villages built of wood on piles according to a defined scheme and squared form; constructed on dry land and generally in proximity to the rivers. During this age (between 1500 BC and 800 BC) the first necropolis (on the sites of the present-day Piazza Duomo and Piazzale della Macina) were constructed.

Parma is famous for its food and rich gastronomical tradition: two of its specialties are Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (also produced in Reggio Emilia), and Prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham), both given Protected Designation of Origin status. Parma also claims several stuffed pasta dishes like “tortelli d’erbetta” and “anolini in brodo”.

In 2004 Parma was appointed the seat of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and was appointed to the Creative Cities Network as UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Parma also has two food multinationals, Barilla and Parmalat and a medium-large food tourism sector represented by Parma Golosa and Food Valley companies.