Bologna to Parma and Reggio Emilia: Private day trip

One of Italy’s most prosperous cities, Parma was founded by the Romans in 183 BC. The distinguished city has many important art galleries, museums, old churches and buildings to explore in this compact city. Three delectable foods are associated with the city of Parma: parmesan cheese, prosciutto, and handmade pasta. This, of course, means that there’s also a wide range of restaurants serving local delicious cuisine to choose from. In the heart of Parma lies its cathedral square, Piazza Duomo, with its attractive cobblestone. Located within the piazza is the renowned city cathedral. This 13th century cathedral is a prominent example of Romanesque style of the Po Valley. Another notable attraction located in the heart of town is the baptistery, or Battistero. This striking octagon-shaped building dates back to the 12th century and features pink Verona marble decorated with medieval carvings. Inside, many colorful frescoes are waiting to be discovered. Sample some parmesan cheese and prosciutto as you make your way through this colorful city.

Reggio Emilia dates back to Ancient Rome when the Via Aemilia was built in 187BC and the need for an administration centre led to the creation of Reggio. From there on in Reggio Emilia would play an important part in the history of Italy. Reggio’s most momentous period was as part of the Lombard League who’s alliance was able to resist the tyranny of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and agree to terms favorable to northern Italy. Although later eclipsed by Milan some the city still holds an air of majesty, with many of its treasured buildings dating back 500 years, and in other cases, such as the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, around 740 years. It was here in 1797 that the Italian national flag was first sewn. Reggio is the original source of many internationally known products, such as the sparkling wine Lambrusco, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and balsamic vinegar.