Parmesan. Parma ham. Parma, Italy.
Why visit?
Rolling hills, beautiful countryside and rich traditional parmesan, ham and vinegar production in surrounding areas and Parma, Italy.
Parma is a small, provincial town in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern, Italy. With a wide range of activities, such as shopping, site-seeing and exploring, Parma offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in Italian culture! Try aged parmesan cheese, cured ham and flavorful balsamic vinegar that represent what Italy is all about.
Parma is a small, provincial town in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern, Italy. With a wide range of activities, such as shopping, site-seeing and exploring, Parma offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in Italian culture! Try aged parmesan cheese, cured ham and flavorful balsamic vinegar that represent what Italy is all about.
Highlights
The long-established production of parmesan, parma ham and balsamic vinegar made with years of practice and family secrets. Plus a tasty hands-on learning experience of making traditional pasta.
Parmiggiano-Reggiano Cheese Factory
Watch as cheese from this factory is made 365 days out of the year. The Parmesan Master and cheese workers get raw unpasteurized milk from a nearby farm to make the cheese in a 6ft copper lined tub. Observe the birth of a 120lb baby-parmesan, which will be split into two parmesan wheels to make all Italians shout for joy. After you witness the process, they invite you try their one, two or three aged parmesan. Each bite invites different flavors on your taste buds!
Watch as cheese from this factory is made 365 days out of the year. The Parmesan Master and cheese workers get raw unpasteurized milk from a nearby farm to make the cheese in a 6ft copper lined tub. Observe the birth of a 120lb baby-parmesan, which will be split into two parmesan wheels to make all Italians shout for joy. After you witness the process, they invite you try their one, two or three aged parmesan. Each bite invites different flavors on your taste buds!
Medici Ermete Balsamic Vinegar
Learn the art of how balsamic vinegar is made. Balsamic vinegar requires juice from grapes that must be cooked down and made in a specific region due to the natural yeast that is optimal for production. A gold level must be aged for at least 25 years and at Medici Ermete, you can find a vinegar that dates from 1937. This family owned balsamic vinegar maker allows you to try the red label (12-20 years), silver label (20-25 years) and gold label (+25 years). Each bottle can be used for topping your sashimi, salads, meats, toast and even your ice cream!
Learn the art of how balsamic vinegar is made. Balsamic vinegar requires juice from grapes that must be cooked down and made in a specific region due to the natural yeast that is optimal for production. A gold level must be aged for at least 25 years and at Medici Ermete, you can find a vinegar that dates from 1937. This family owned balsamic vinegar maker allows you to try the red label (12-20 years), silver label (20-25 years) and gold label (+25 years). Each bottle can be used for topping your sashimi, salads, meats, toast and even your ice cream!
Conti Parma Ham Factory
See where your prosciutto is produced! The prosciutto, coppa and salami you've been enjoying didn't magically appear on your plate. At Conti, you'll learn the intricate process of salting, freezing and fermenting the meat so it can be distributed to restaurants all over Italy.The pig has been a staple in Italian culture because its delicious and nutritious!
See where your prosciutto is produced! The prosciutto, coppa and salami you've been enjoying didn't magically appear on your plate. At Conti, you'll learn the intricate process of salting, freezing and fermenting the meat so it can be distributed to restaurants all over Italy.The pig has been a staple in Italian culture because its delicious and nutritious!
TastyCook Pasta Cooking Class
Located a short walk from the station and underneath a quaint coffeeshop, TastyCook offers a fun, hands-on experience to become a pasta chef! This class is for beginners and even if you have experience, you may learn a thing or two. After you make the pasta, the kitchen chef allows you to cook your creation and eat it with your friends and family. Fresh from your own hands and with traditional sauces. Included with the class is your very own TastyCook apron!
Located a short walk from the station and underneath a quaint coffeeshop, TastyCook offers a fun, hands-on experience to become a pasta chef! This class is for beginners and even if you have experience, you may learn a thing or two. After you make the pasta, the kitchen chef allows you to cook your creation and eat it with your friends and family. Fresh from your own hands and with traditional sauces. Included with the class is your very own TastyCook apron!
Castle of Torrechiara
Driving through Parma, you can catch a glimpse of an amazing castle with a enchanted love story. The castle was built from 1446-1460 by Pier Maria Rossi II for his lover Bianca Pellegrini. The original furniture may not be in the house, but it still has historical medieval structures such as towers and a courtyard. Stunning frescoes cover the ceilings and there is a room with a dedication to Bianca. The crests of their love can still be read as "Disne et in aeternum" (worthy and ever) and "Nune et Semper" (now and forever) to demonstrate their eternal love. If you have time, the castle is open for visitors!
Driving through Parma, you can catch a glimpse of an amazing castle with a enchanted love story. The castle was built from 1446-1460 by Pier Maria Rossi II for his lover Bianca Pellegrini. The original furniture may not be in the house, but it still has historical medieval structures such as towers and a courtyard. Stunning frescoes cover the ceilings and there is a room with a dedication to Bianca. The crests of their love can still be read as "Disne et in aeternum" (worthy and ever) and "Nune et Semper" (now and forever) to demonstrate their eternal love. If you have time, the castle is open for visitors!
Tips When in Parma
1. The hills are breathtakingly beautiful, but if get motion sickness I would suggest getting some Dramamine or other medication to ease the feeling. The windy roads and constant motion can make one quite nauseous.
2. If the smell of cheese and meat are appetizing then no worries for you! For others, the smell can be a little overpowering so you may want to bring a mask or scarf to cover your nose.
3. From personal experience, having someone from Italy take the wheel is the safest way to go. Native Italian drivers are accustomed to the windy roads and can assure you get to every destination safely.
4. Don't wear shoes you love because there are liquids in the factories. The parmesan factory will provide covers for yours shoes but if you want to be sure, then wear a pair you can easily wash or throw out.
1. The hills are breathtakingly beautiful, but if get motion sickness I would suggest getting some Dramamine or other medication to ease the feeling. The windy roads and constant motion can make one quite nauseous.
2. If the smell of cheese and meat are appetizing then no worries for you! For others, the smell can be a little overpowering so you may want to bring a mask or scarf to cover your nose.
3. From personal experience, having someone from Italy take the wheel is the safest way to go. Native Italian drivers are accustomed to the windy roads and can assure you get to every destination safely.
4. Don't wear shoes you love because there are liquids in the factories. The parmesan factory will provide covers for yours shoes but if you want to be sure, then wear a pair you can easily wash or throw out.