Parma is located in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, half-way between Milan and Bologna, and is famous for its architecture and the glorious surrounding countryside.
The city’s main claim to fame however is culinary. That Parmesan cheese you sprinkle on your pasta comes from here, as does the Parma ham which is traditionally eaten with melon. The Cathedral of Parma houses a 12th century sculpture by Benedetto Antelami and a 16th century fresco masterpiece by Antonio da Correggio. The Museum Lombardi exhibits an impressive collection of art and historical objects relating to Maria Luigia of Habsburg and her first husband, Napoleon Bonaparte. All around the province, there are over 100 castles, mainly dating from the 3rd to the 5th century.