Where to Stay

Parma – A place to repose

Parma sees a great deal of commercial, industrial and agricultural activity, but that is not all. It is also a city rich in works of art with some magnificent buildings and is famous for its good food and friendly locals. Originally of Etruscan origin, it was then conquered by the Gauls and the Roman colony. It passed to the Viscounts, the Este and the Sforza families until its liberation and heroic resistance against the Fascist troops of Italo Balbo.

The city has a large historical centre that developed inside the old Piazza Grande, which today bears the name of Piazza Garibaldi. Near the Piazza stand the Madonna della Steccata church, the Palazzo del Governatore and the Palazzo del Municipio. Behind the Palazzo del Municipio is the three star hotel Button, with its spacious rooms, brickwork floors and a few pieces of antique furniture. Heading from there towards the Piazza del Duomo, you will find the Hotel Torino not far from the Teatro Regio, home to important annual opera seasons.

To the south of the Piazza, near to the Palazzo dell'Università and the Stuard art gallery, rich in works ranging from the 14th to the 18th century, stands Park Hotel Toscanini, which boasts a panoramic terrace from where the whole city can be admired.

To the north of the piazza stands the Palazzo Ducale, set in the beautiful Parco Ducale, surrounded by trees, sculpted bushes and 18th century paths. Overlooking the park is the Grand Hotel Baglioni, decorated in liberty style and with all the necessary facilities for congresses, seminars or business meetings. Or you might opt for the Hotel Farnese International, also not far away. The Hotel Verdi also overlooks the park on the western side. Inside, it is refined, and all the bedrooms have beds made up with linen sheets. A few meters from the park, near to the Palazzo della Pilotta, the Park Hotel Stendhal offers pleasant communal areas and various types of rooms.

Towards the north of the city, as you cross Via Verdi you can turn right into Via Borghesi and take a room in the l'Hotel Brenta, a small, family run hotel, the rooms of which overlook a narrow alleyway. Heading east to Viale Mentana the Hotel Palace Maria Luigia offers luxury rooms for a more demanding clientèle. The Savoy Hotel, in Via XX Settembre, is ideal for those in Parma on business.

Outside the centre but near the station, stands the Astoria Executive, whilst the Daniel is near the A15 motorway heading towards Milan.

32km from Parma you can visit a local thermal spa of international fame, Salsomaggiore Terme that hosts many events of a cultural nature (especially in spring and autumn) such as conventions, beauty contests, exhibitions etc. The salt-bromide-iodine waters are used for respiratory treatments, irrigation, bathing and mud wraps. The treatments are carried out in the liberty and oriental style building of the Berzieri spa, in the more modern Zoia spa or in hotels such as the Grand Hotel et de Milan. Other hotels in the area include the Hotel Elite and the Hotel Regina.

In Parma's immediate surroundings, towns such as Monticelli Terme (a small centre immersed in a magnificent park which seems to act as a border between the valleys of the rivers Enza and Parma), feature characteristic, family run hotels of eight rooms upwards. In Colecchio we find the Ilga hotel and the Mini Hotel. You will find Hotel Aemme in Baganza and Soragna is home to Locanda del Lupo.

On the outskirts of Parma's provinces, are the centres of Busseto, famous for being the birth place of Giuseppe Verdi, Tabiano Bagni, an important sulfurous thermal spa since the 17th century, and Berceto which offers healthy, restful holidays at one with nature at the Hotel Napoleon, the Hotel Terme and La foresta di Bard.