Parma is a cosy and pleasant medium sized city in the north of Italy. It
is situated between Bologna and Milan, and has good air and rail links.
It is an arts and science centre, which combines tradition with a
modern approach. Parma has a strong cultural heritage. The basis of
the Scuola Palatina was founded in Parma in 781 A.D., during a meeting
between Charlemagne and the Irish monk Alcuin. The University of Parma
is very ancient, it was founded about one thousand ago: with the Decree
of March 962, Emperor Otto I conferred to the Bishop Uberto the right
to ordain the notaries who could conduct their activities all over
the Empire. Parma is the birthplace of the great composer Giuseppe
Verdi and of other well-known Italian artists. It is a wonderful tourist
centre, with many monuments, churches, museums and concert halls.
Its best known local products are Parma Ham and Parmesan Cheese. The
climate is fine, with a daytime temperature in September of about
20°C.
HOW TO REACH PARMA
Parma (right in the centre of the Po Valley) is easily reached from all
the northern Italy's main cities, but especially from Bologna or Milan
(from east to west: Bologna, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Parma, Piacenza,
Milan). north Italy (Firenze =
Florence, Milano = Milan, Genova = Genoa, Torino = Turin)
To view Maps (see also below) in PDF format you will need Acrobat Reader.
This program is free, and can be downloaded from:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
BY AIR
Parma is about :
100 km from the Guglielmo Marconi International Airport (Bologna:
code BLQ)
http://www.bologna-airport.it
160 km from the Malpensa International Airport (Milan: code MXP)
and 160 km from the Linate International Airport (Milan: code LIN)
http://www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/en/
The Giuseppe Verdi National Airport (Parma: code PMF)
http://www.parma-airport.it/default.aspx
is situated on the outskirts of the city (about 20 minutes from the
Airport to the city centre by taxi; taxi is the only reasonable choice).
BY TRAIN
The railway station of Parma can easily be reached from the south
(via Rome - Florence - Bologna) or from the northwest (via Turin -
Milan).
Parma's railway station is very close to the old town centre
(10 minutes by foot), and to the main hotels.
BY CAR
Travellers from the eastern regions can reach Bologna, and then Parma
(pay attention: "Parma" exit, not "Parma Ovest"
exit) through the A1 motorway (Autostrada A1; from north to south:
Milan - Bologna - Florence - Rome - Naples), which connects traffic
from France (via Turin) and from Switzerland (via Chiasso - Como)
with the south of Italy.
Travellers from the Autobrennero (via Verona) must take the A1
near Modena, then go towards Milan and leave at the "Parma"
exit (not "Parma Ovest" exit).
Those coming from Genoa through the A15 motorway (La Spezia - Parma)
can leave at the "Parma Ovest" exit, situated on the A15,
or continue along the A1 and leave at the "Parma" exit.
WE SUGGEST
that you reach the Marconi Airport (Bologna), then the railway
station in Bologna by taxi or by bus (it takes about 30 minutes from
the Airport to the railway station of Bologna); then go to Parma by
train (it takes about one hour by train from Bologna to Parma);
or
that you reach the Linate Airport (Milan), then the railway
station in Milan by bus (the bus runs every half hour; it takes
about 25 minutes from the Airport to the railway station of Milan);
then go to Parma by train (it takes about one hour by train from
Milan to Parma).
