• Italy: Ciao Bella
    Palazzo della Pilotta and the Verdi Monument from Piazzale della Pace— Parma, Italy.
    Giuseppe Verdi Monument at Piazzale della Pace ... inaugurated in 1920 — Parma, Italy.Aging determines the quality of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese — Parma, Italy.The belfry of the Parma Cathedral was added between 1284-1294 — Parma, Italy.The San Giovanni Battista Baptistery was built between 1196-1216 — Parma, Italy.A closer look at the entrance to the Baptistery — Parma, Italy.The Duomo and belfry/clock tower from across the Piazza del Duomo — Parma, Italy.Mui's photo of the interior of the Duomo — Parma, Italy.A closer look at the sanctuary of the Duomo — Parma, Italy.Amazing ceiling and fresco work at the Duomo — Parma, Italy.The main organ at the Duomo is a reconstruction of a 1787 Sarassi instrument — Parma, Italy.Ceiling detail from the north transept of the Duomo — Parma, Italy.A unique art installation of suspended mirrors overhead on a street in Parma, Italy.Hercules & Antaeus ... one of the many statues that can "telephone" you if you download the app.Palazzo del Governatore at Piazza Garibaldi — Parma, Italy.Behind the Garibaldi Monument are two sundials that date back to 1829 — Parma, Italy.Torrente Parma (Parma River) is all but dry ... at least in the area where we saw it — Parma, Italy.The Parma River divides the city in two ... it flows from the Apennines to the Po River — Parma.Mui perusing the menu at Osteria della Ghiaia — Parma, Italy.A delicious lunch @ Osteria della Ghiaia — Parma, Italy.Torta Susanna @ Osteria della Ghiaia ... an early birthday cake — Parma, Italy.The Partisan Monument honors the Italian resistance against Nazi-fascism — Parma, Italy.

    Parma: A Day Trip from Bologna

    April 9 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    With a train trip of little over an hour ahead of us, we were up and out the door early today. So early, in fact, that we managed to get on the 8:33a train instead of the 8:55a departure we had planned on.

    By 9:45a, we were at the Parma train station, ready to explore Emilia-Romagna’s second largest city after Bologna … the city of prosciutto and Parmigiano-Reggiano … the birthplace of Verdi, the composer; Toscanini, the conductor; Parmigianino, the painter; Bertolucci, the film director. Oh, and yes, Franco Nero was born here as well.

    We started our visit by strolling the streets, visiting the amazing Duomo which is chock-a-block with frescoes and paintings, and generally enjoying the beautiful spring morning.

    Then it was time for lunch … at Osteria della Ghiaia … one of the places recommended by the woman at the Parma Welcome office when we stopped by to pick up some brochures to plan future visits to the city.

    The place was quiet; the service personal; the food delicious. I ordered the homemade pappardelle with a ragù made from Parma ham; Mui ordered a platter of Parma hams and salamis, including a prosciutto aged for 25 months that simply melted in your mouth … served with a balsamic infused onion jam and homemade fry bread.

    Our dessert — Torta Susanna … a Parma specialty since the 19th century — came with a candle. Apparently, Mui whispered to the proprietor that our visit to the city was an early birthday celebration since a nationwide rail strike is planned on the actual day. The cake — a shortcrust pastry base topped with a layer of ricotta cheese and a dark chocolate ganache — was light and delicious.

    Unlike some of the smaller towns we’ve visited, many of the sights in this university city apparently remain open during siesta hours. We took advantage of this to spend the afternoon at a monumental complex.

    But more on that in the next footprint …    Read more