Planning a Trip

Getting There -- Parma is served by the Milan-Bologna rail line, with 30 trains a day arriving from Milan (trip time: 1 1/2 hr.); the one-way fare starts at 8€ ($10/£5.35). From Bologna, 47 trains per day arrive in Parma (1 hr.); the one-way fare is around 5€ ($6.50/£3.35). There are nine connections a day from Florence (2 hr.); the one-way fare begins at 18€ ($23/£12). For information and schedules, call tel. 892021.

If you have a car and are starting out in Bologna, head northwest along A1.

Visitor Information -- The tourist office is at Via Melloni 1A (tel. 0521-218889; http://turismo.comune.parma.it), open Monday 9am to 1pm and 3 to 7pm; Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 7pm, and Sunday 9am to 1pm.