Parma

Parma is a city in northern Italy, the capital of the province of Parma in the Emilia-Romagna region. It is situated on the left bank of the river Parma, about 120 kilometers southeast of Milan and 80 kilometers northwest of Bologna. The city has a population of around 200,000 and serves as a regional economic and cultural hub.

Historically, Parma traces its origins to Roman times and developed as an important Lombard and later medieval center. It became the core of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, ruled by the Farnese family in the 16th to 18th centuries, and subsequently under Bourbon-Parma sovereignty until Italian unification in 1860.

Parma's historic center contains notable landmarks: the Parma Cathedral (Duomo) with frescoes by Antonio da Correggio; the Baptistery of Parma; the Palazzo della Pilotta, which houses the Galleria Nazionale and the Teatro Farnese; the Regio Theatre (Teatro Regio) and the University of Parma.

Parma is renowned for its culinary products, notably Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, both protected by European designations of origin. The economy combines food processing, machinery and small manufacturing, and agriculture. The city is well connected by road and rail on the Milan–Bologna axis.