Parma Food Tour Taste Parmigiano Parma Ham and Local Delicacies
Description
Visiting Parma means immersing yourself in Italy's Food Valley, renowned for Parmigiano and Parma Ham. This 2-hour food experience takes you through the city’s vibrant areas, with stops at a gourmet shop, sandwich shop, deli, and artisanal gelato shop. Sample 7 different tastings of the region's culinary specialties while gaining insights into local traditions and lifestyle. Uncover all the secrets of the King of Cheeses and learn how to fully appreciate it through sensory analysis, under the guidance of a certified Parmigiano Taster. Avoid the tourist spots, eat where the locals eat, and discover everything about the local specialties. Savor the rich flavors of traditional cured meats such as Parma Ham, Culatello of Zibello, Culaccia, Coppa and Salame Felino, paired with exquisite local wines. Learn about the originis, characteristics and uses of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar from a Master Taster. Leave with a deeper appreciation of Parma and insider tips from your knowledgeable guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide in front of Bar Pasticceria Ponte Romano, in Strada Giuseppe Mazzini, 12E, 43121 Parma PR. The historic center of Parma is closed to traffic. The most convenient parking is the Toschi Parking. The meeting place can be easily reached on foot in 10 minutes.
Passing through the area of the Via Mazzini pedestrian underpass, see the remains of the Roman bridge—built during the Augustan age and rebuilt in the Theoderician era—which was left high and dry by a massive flood in 1177. With your culinary guide, retrace the origins of Parma's gastronomy.
Cross Piazza Ghiaia, Parma’s historic open-air market site, which has been covered since 2010 by a futuristic structure that allows activities to continue even in bad weather; the square is renowned for hosting local markets, street food stalls, and cultural events throughout the year. Strolling through this place steeped in history, discover the distinctive features of medieval parmesan cuisine and the origins of products that are the city's pride and joy today.
Reach a cheese shop and enjoy a guided tasting of 5 different ages of Parmigiano Reggiano, accompanied by a glass of Lambrusco wine, water, and bread. Discover the origins, history, and production process behind the "King of Cheeses." Learn to appreciate its organoleptic characteristics through sensory analysis, thanks to a tasting session led by an expert taster. By the end of this unforgettable sensory experience, you will view this renowned product in a whole new light!
See the exterior of the Palazzo della Pilotta, built in the early Seventeenth Century by the Farnese as an imposing container for the court's services. Let yourself be captivated by the characteristics of Parma's cuisine and the sumptuous banquets of the Farnese era.
Take a look at the Monument to Giuseppe Verdi.
Admire the exteriors of the Cathedral and the magnificent Baptistery of Parma.
Experience Parma's Top Street Food stopping at a traditional Sandwich Shop.
Visit one of the oldest delis in the city center to discover the gastronomic delicacies that have made the city of Parma famous in the world, Prosciutto di Parma and the tasty products of the Parma charcuterie such as Culatello di Zibello, Culaccia, Coppa and Salame Felino accompanied by bread, water, and exquisite local white wine.
Cross Garibaldi Square, overlooked by beautiful buildings such as the Captain’s Palace, the Town Hall and the Governor’s Palace, and also shops, restaurants and cafes which have earned the city the title of “UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy”.
Pass by the beautiful Santa Maria della Steccata Church, a splendid example of Renaissance architecture.
Cap off your gastronomic stroll through the streets of the center with a taste of delicious Artisanal Gelato made with the best local raw materials without additives and preservatives. Discover authentic artisanal gelato, that is both healthy and sustainable: every ingredient is selected from local farmers, prioritizing ancient, organic, and biodiversity-rich varieties. Experience gelato crafted exclusively from premium, intensely flavored products that reflect the traditions and culture of our region.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum drinking age is 18 years
- Please advise of any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Not available for vegetarians and vegans
- There are no gluten-free options available for fresh bread and traditional savory pie
- A moderate amount of walking is involved (2 km)
- On Sundays, 3 stops will be made instead of 4 but the number and type of tastings will remain unchanged
- A minimum number of 4 adult participants is required for the service to be activated
- The experience is free of charge for children aged 0 to 4, as it does not include tastings
Reviews(2)
I wanted to get to know Parma starting from its food, and this tour exceeded every expectation. In two hours, I crossed corners of the city that I would never have found on my own, between delis, sandwich shops, and an artisanal gelato shop, always far from the usual tourist routes. There were seven tastings, each one better than the last: Parmigiano tasted with a real sensory analysis, Prosciutto di Parma, Culatello di Zibello, Culaccia, Coppa, Salame Felino, all accompanied by excellent local wines and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar. The amount of food was truly abundant, much more than I expected: I returned home full and fully satisfied. What made the difference was above all Roberta, our guide, simply extraordinary. Very well-prepared and overwhelming in her passion, she knew how to recount every stop with contagious competence and enthusiasm, revealing secrets, curiosities, and anecdotes that we would never have discovered on our own. Thanks to her, I learned completely new and fascinating things about local traditions, details that made me look at these products with different eyes. Her sensory analysis of the Parmigiano was a real revelation. The price-quality ratio is excellent, and the experience as a whole was authentic, rich, and truly engaging. A tour that I recommend with all my heart to anyone who wants to discover Parma through its flavors: I would do it again tomorrow!
Gentile Mariarosa, grazie per queste parole così entusiaste e per aver scelto di scoprire Parma attraverso i suoi sapori con Artemilia. Siamo felici che il tour vi abbia permesso di attraversare angoli della città che spesso sfuggono ai percorsi tradizionali, consentendovi un’esperienza autentica. Anche con poco tempo a disposizione, una passeggiata enogastronomica può trasformarsi in un’esperienza indimenticabile, se si è guidati da personale esperto capace di trasmettere il legame profondo tra prodotto e territorio, materia prima e tecnologia. Ogni assaggio, e in particolare l’analisi sensoriale guidata realizzata dalle nostre guide, che sono maestri assaggiatori di Parmigiano Reggiano, Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale e Sommelier, è per noi un’occasione per aiutare i nostri ospiti ad ampliare i propri orizzonti e ad apprezzare appieno i prodotti che vengono degustati. Speriamo di avervi di nuovo come nostri graditi ospiti in futuro! Un cordiale saluto, Michelle Valeria Costa
It is our second tour with Artemilia and we will continue to recommend it always and anyway, because it is truly worth it! This time I was traveling with two friends and we didn't have much time available. This more compact and fast tour was just right for us; Roberta was able to advise us on the choice of tour, and mindful of the previous one, I knew I was in excellent hands. What can I say, the products speak for themselves and don't need comments, but what struck me this time was the care and research into the details, which made this tour unique and very pleasant as well, highly recommended for those who want to get a taste of the regional delicacies but don't have much time available! Highly recommended for couples, but also for solo travelers. We will be back ;)
Gentile Ilaria, grazie di cuore per aver scelto di nuovo Artemilia! Siamo felici che Roberta abbia saputo adattarsi ai vostri tempi stretti e che questa esperienza densa e concentrata nel tempo di 2 ore abbia fatto appieno al caso vostro. Questa passeggiata enogastronomica è stata pensata proprio per chi ha poco tempo a disposizione ma è comunque alla ricerca di un'esperienza culturale autentica, arricchente e al contempo divertente. Siamo liete che abbiate apprezzato l’alta qualità dei prodotti e l’attenzione ai dettagli, ci piace infatti portare i nostri ospiti oltre la superficie, alla scoperta dei segreti che sono alla base della qualità dei prodotti che vengono degustati e questo ci è possibile grazie alla formazione specifica e professionalità del personale impiegato. Speriamo di potervi accogliere nuovamente come nostri graditi ospiti! Un cordiale saluto, Michelle Valeria Costa
