PARMA
With due deference for all who have been before may I offer some information for visitors to Parma?
Parma is a small but perfectly formed City. Flat, and with everything in walking distance.
Population approximately 200,000.
There are two Rugby teams, Rugby Parma FC (Overmach/CariParma) and GrAN Parma Rugby (Rolly). The Stadium is close to the City Centre and Railway Station, the Stadio Lanfranchi, in Viale Piacenza. Parma Google Map
HOTELS
My pick would be the Hotel Astoria Executive which is convenient to the Railway Station, Bus Terminal and the City Centre, and only ten minutes from the Airport.
Slightly further from the station is the Maria Luigia but still less than half a mile from the centre, and easily walked. If you have a large wallet try the Hotel de Ville 5*, or the Star Hotel du Parc, again within walking distance of the centre.
RAIL TRAVEL
You can buy the tickets here, Trenitalia online, then take your reference number to the Automatic Ticket Machines (which display in English on request) your tickets are printed while you wait. Then onto the validation machine and the train, easy as falling off a log!
Travelling first class is only a couple of Euros extra (unlike the UK). BUT remember to VALIDATE YOUR TICKET BEFORE YOU GET ON THE TRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The process is:- 1) Buy ticket. 2) Validate it before getting on the train; all stations and most platforms have YELLOW boxes with an orifice for inserting the ticket. It stamps the end with time and date. BIG fines if you forget, being a tourist is not a good enough excuse . 3) Sit back and enjoy the journey.
The Parmense are very proud of their food, not just the Prosciutto and Parmigiano. The regional specialties of locally cured ham and cheese).
Unlike French Cuisine the local food is unhindered by pretentious sauces, and would best be looked on as refined family cooking.
Some items on the menu that you probably won't find in the phrase books are;
Cottechino – a cooked salami. Spalla Cotta and Torta Fritta - cooked shoulder of ham with a very special fried pasta. Guancia di Manzo, Vitello, or Maiale
- Cheek of Beef, Veal or Pork, usually braised, very tender and delicious. You will also get the opportunity to try Pesto di Cavallo – raw minced horse steak tartar, very popular in the region, although not to my particular taste.
Here are just a few of the excellent Restaurants in Parma and a couple of tips.
1) Osteria del Gesso, Via F. Maestri, 11 this is so good it is advisable to book in advance.
2) Sorelle Picchi, Via Farini, 12, excellent for lunch, occasionally open for dinner. Best to book to be sure of a table. It also has a fine Salumeria attached.
3) Del Tribunale, Vicolo Politi 5. Tucked away through an arch off via Farini.
4) Dei Corrieri, Strada Conservatorio 1. (The old Post House), very good Parma Cuisine, reasonable prices.
5) La Filoma, Borgo Venti Marzo 5. a bit more special, and more expensive.
6) Orfeo, Via Carducci, the best Pizzas in town.
