Private Half-Day Tour to Parma City of Gastronomy and Perfume

The visit to the Ducal Park introduces us to the discovery of the history of the city of Parma, capital of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza from 1552 to 1859, and of the botanical characteristics of the famous "Violetta di Parma", present within the Duchy during the second half of the eighteenth century.

We will visit 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. We will retrace the dynastic passages that followed the extinction of the Farnese dynasty.

We will visit the exterior of the Palazzo di Riserva, inside which the Glauco Lombardi Museum is located. We will retrace the events of the arrival of the famous "Violetta di Parma" inside the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza in the second half of the Eighteenth Century and the success of the small flower under the First and Second Empire, amply testified by the collections of the Glauco Lombardi Museum.

We will take a look at the exterior of the Teatro Regio, one of the most important Opera Houses in the world, where internationally renowned artists, such as Paganini, Verdi, Toscanini, Callas and Beniamino Gigli, have played, sung and worked.

We will be enchanted in front of the colorful counters of the famous patisseries, enjoy their sweet and cosy atmosphere while savoring traditional desserts and pastries.

We will observe the magnificent Baptistery of Parma from the outside.

We will cross Piazza Duomo and we will admire the Cathedral from the outside.

We will visit a historic shop in the center to taste a traditional focaccia/sandwich.

We will discover the Violetta di Parma 1930 shop.

We will learn about the protagonists of the perfume supply chain in Parma, the origins of the first Italian cologne, Acqua di Parma, an iconic fragrance since 1916, and the birth of the other famous perfume and cosmetic companies in the area. We will deepen our knowledge of the Acqua di Parma brand, the history, values, and timeless style of the Maison from its origins to its new declinations, and approach Artistic Perfumery through an engaging sensory experience at one of the historic perfumeries in the city center.

A fragrant aperitif will transport us to the Parma of the late Nineteenth Century, era of the birth of Borsari.

We will walk through 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 town the title of “UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy”.

A fresh pasta shop is a must-see stop walking through the city of Parma, to learn about the ingredients of the famous Emilian homemade pasta and its different shapes, to discover the flavors of typical dishes and curious anecdotes.

We will visit a traditional Deli shop to discover the gastronomic delicacies that have made the city of Parma famous in the world, Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and the tasty products of the Parma charcuterie such as Culatello di Zibello, Fiocco, Strolghino, Salame Felino, Coppa, Pancetta, Gola, Culaccia, Spalla Cruda and Spalla Cotta di San Secondo Parmense.

We will visit to the San Filippo Neri Antique Pharmacy, a fascinating place hidden in the heart of the historic center, guardian of the cosmetic and pharmaceutical heritage of the city. A galenic laboratory that has preserved untouched its structure dating back to 1789, the perfect place to discover, touch and smell the raw materials once used by apothecaries and perfumers and flip through the ancient recipe books based on natural ingredients, a legacy of ancient knowledge.

We will conclude our immersion in the colors, scents and aromas of the city with an unusual tasting of artisanal gelato, capable of recalling different olfactory memories related to the city of Parma and its territory.