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Parma
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Football Italia City Guide
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| The city of Parma has a proud history and of its many famous citizens Giuseppe Verdi is probably its favourite son. In fact, even the town's team - initially Verdi FC - were founded in memory of the illustrious composer in the centenary year of his birth - 1913. It was only in 1968 that the side finally adopted the name AC Parma. The city continues to be an important centre for opera and for the arts in general - as well as for Serie A football of course. |
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 Stadio: Ennio Tardini
The Ennio Tardini, with a capacity of 28,783, was built in 1923 and is named after the club’s first President. He proudly laid the first stone for the stadium, but died before building was complete.
Over the 80 years since many changes have been made, the most significant being the addition of the Curva Sud in 1993. Away fans use this section - or at least a part of it - while the Gialloblu’s most enthusiastic supporters run the show from the renovated Curva Nord.
The stadium is centrally placed and easy to walk to, but if you’re in a hurry catch bus No 8 or 9 from Parma’s main railway station. |
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 Match Tickets
Although it is possible to buy match tickets from such websites as www.ticketone.it and www.ticketweb.it before you leave home it’s a bit of a hassle. You’ll be far better off getting your tickets directly from the Tardini when you’re in Parma. The ticket offices at the stadium are only open the day before a match - morning and evening - and from 10am on match day. Unless it is a big game, the Tardini is rarely full to capacity so tickets should be readily available.
If you want to join in the festivities with the home fans go into the Curva Nord where ‘The Boys’ cheer on their team. The Curva Sud, meanwhile, is home to the visiting fans and both sections will cost about 20 Euros. If you want to sit in the Tribuna, however, prices range from 30 to 100 Euros.
Football Italia Ticket Info |
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 Out & About
> Piazza Garibaldi is the heart of Parma. This attractive square has a selection of bars and a curious sundial that also works as a calendar. Pop into the Madonna della Steccata church behind the imposing Palazzo del Governatore to see the frescoes by Parmigianino.
> The Duomo is worth a look, but the magnificent octagonal Battistero just outside is not to be missed. Be warned it closes for a couple of hours over lunchtime.
> Grassy Piazza della Pace is dominated by the Palazzo della Pilotta. This huge, partially destroyed palace now houses Parma’s main art gallery and archaeological museum. To get into the museums you first pass through the curious wooden Teatro Farnese.
> Near the Stadio is the Cittadella Park. Rollerbladers and joggers stick to the circuit on top of the old fortress walls. Inside the walls there is a children’s playground, a campsite and even a youth hostel.
> To find out more about the famous Parma Violet scent - created for Napoleon’s second wife, Duchess of Parma Maria Luigia, who loved the local violetta - visit the perfume museum in Via Trento 30/A, behind the station.
> Visit the birthplace of Toscannini. Among the mementoes of the great anti-fascist conductor, exiled for his political views, is a letter of congratulations on his beliefs from Einstein.
> Catch a bus for about 50 minutes from outside the railway station to Roncole Verdi and visit Verdi’s birthplace (closed at lunchtime). Notice the composer’s French birth certificate testifying to the area’s lengthy domination by France.
> The hills around Parma are scattered with hundreds of castles. Hire a car and explore. One of the most impressive is the Castello di Torrechiara.
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Food & Drink
Sometimes known as Food Valley, you can be sure to eat well in and around Parma. Particularly famed are the local salumi - cold, cured meats.
> Prosciutto di Parma - be sure not to ask for anything else with this mouth-watering world famous ham in your panino.
> Coppa Parmigiana or culatello - a couple of other locally produced salumi, similar to Prosciutto.
> Parmigiano Reggiano - too good to be merely grated on spaghetti, try rucola - rocket salad - with flakes of the original Parmesan cheese on top.
> As for washing it all down, Lambrusco is the most popular wine in the area.
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Restaurants
> Sorelle Picchi (Str Farini 27, Tel: 0039-0521-233528) Food shop at the front, trattoria at the rear. Of the two Picchi sisters only Flora continues to work - the older, Cristina, has retired. Head here at lunchtime, closed Sundays. Also good for gastronomic souvenirs.
> Ristorante La Greppia (Via Garibaldi 39, Tel: 0039-521-233686) Spectacular home made pasta and desserts.
> Osteria con Cucina, Al Canon d’Or (Via N Sauro 3/A, Tel: 0039-521-285234) A good choice of local dishes. Try the spatzli - a kind of pasta.
> Osteria del Gesso (Via F. Maestri 11, Tel: 0039-521-230505) A bit more upmarket. Menu includes locally popular straccetti di cavallo - horsemeat stew.
> Rangon (Borgo San Silvestro 10, Tel: 0039-0521-287778) Wine bar, also serves good simple food. The zuppa di cipolla - onion soup - is delicious.
Bask in the sun with a cappuccino outside one of the bars in Piazza Garibaldi
> Gran Caffe Orientale - Plush and well established.
> Caffe Orologio - Just the other side of the sundial, more modern.
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Accomodation
> Albergo Brenta (Via GB Borghesi 12, Tel: 0039-0521-208093 Fax: 0039-0521-208094) This family run hotel is comfortable and pleasant with a friendly relaxed atmosphere.
> Hotel Savoy (Via Garibaldi 69B, Tel: 0039-0521-281101 Fax: 0039-0521-281102) Decent, clean and centrally placed.
> Astoria Executive Hotel (Via Trento 9, Tel: 0039-0521-272717 Fax: 0039-0521-272724) Smarter and more modern, near the station.
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Getting there...
The best way to reach Parma is by flying to Bologna and then catching a train which is an hour’s journey. To check out the train timetable visit the Italian railway site: www.fs-on-line.com
Another option is to fly into Milan. Trains from here to Parma take just over an hour. For the cheapest flights check www.ryanair.com
Parma does have its own airport, the Giuseppe Verdi airport. To fly here get a connection at Milan Malpensa. The airport is only a kilometre and a half out of town and has a regular bus service.
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Local lingo
Tola su dolsa! - Take it easy!
Pass’a palla au’to’ compagno! - Pass the ball to a teammate!
Un altro litro di lambrusco per favore. - Another litre of lambrusco please.
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Compiled by: Sarah Lane
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