Parma has been around since Pre-Etruscan times, and was already an established area in the Bronze Age. The Roman colony was founded in 183BC, together with Modena. It has had a turbulent history, being occupied and destroyed many times before the latest damage the city suffered during the German occupation from 1943 to 1945, when several monuments were damaged by the Allied bombardment. However, Parma was relatively lucky to escape without widespread devastation and there are still a great number of monuments to be seen today. The city is also home to the oldest university in the world!

Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy by spaceodissey

Parma and Architecture.

If you are fond of Art, Architecture and Culture, this is the city for you, and you will need at least 2-3 days to see all there is to admire, and also visit the world-famous opera house, the Teatro Regio. This is the home of Verdi and Toscanini, and opera lovers flock here to hear their favourites; the Opera season runs from about April to December, with a festival in October.

There is a lot of Art to be seen, if you keep reading this article you will find out all the Parma tourist attractions! The best place to start would probably be the Pilotta Palace in the historical centre of the town. This Palace now houses some of the most important collections in the city, including the National Gallery where you can see artwork by Correggio, Parmigianino, Leonardo, Tintoretto, van Dyck and many others. While you are there also visit the Bodoni Museum, home to everything to do with Printing and then move on to the Palatine Library to see amazing collections of old books. The Pilotta Palace also houses the Archaeological Museum, worth a visit if you are interested in old artifacts.

Pilotta Palace, Parma, Italy by Herbert Ortner

Next on your list should be the Piazza Duomo, where you can visit the 12th century Romanesque Cathedral, filled with renaissance art. Entrance is free and you can visit from 9 – 12.30 and 3 – 7 pm. Be sure to see the Assumption by Correggio in the central cupola.

After viewing the Duomo, walk to the close-by Baptistery, a combination of Romanesque and Gothic styles, and home to several frescoes dating from the 13th and 14th centuries.

There is another great art collection to be seen at the Court Villa of Mamiano where works by Rubens, Tizano, Goya, Monet, etc can be viewed.

Enough about the culture…I am sure you get the picture! Parma also offers great shopping! If you like antiques, head for the Borgo Nazario Sauro, a small winding road near the centre, where you can explore one antique dealer after the next. This is a great place to find something special to take home.

Duomo, Parma, Italy by Tommaso Meli

Parma and gourmet food.

Parma is known all over the world for its most famous exports, namely Prosciutto di Parma (Parma Ham) and Parmigiano Reggiano (Real Parmesan Cheese), and you really must try both of these and even take some home, but Parma also has several other gastronomic specialities that you should try, so look out for some of the following on restaurant menus: Anolini in Brodo – this is a dish of little pasta parcels filled with beef, Parmesan, poached in a delicious broth; it is a speciality of the town! Also try Tortelli di Erbetta, pasta filled with ricotta, Parmesan and spinach – quite delicious and good for vegetarians.

If you want to try your hand at some Parmesan cookery when you go home try and find the book: “Parma – A Capital of Italian Gastronomy” by Guilano Bugliali – it is fully of wonderful local recipes.

It is possible to go on a tour to see how Parma Ham and Parmesan are made, and you should not miss this experience to round off your visit to the city.

Emilia Delizia is a dedicated writer about food tourism in Italy.

Parmiggiano Reggiano by Kelly Hau

The post Parma: The Culture Capital Of Emilia Romagna | Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

Europe offers variety and individuality that many travelers simply do not have access to back home such as Italian leather, Belgian chocolates and Swiss watches; It really is a shopper’s paradise. Here’s the top 5 cities throughout the continent that shopaholics really can’t afford to miss.

Shopping Centre, London, UK by Jim Linwood

1. Dresden, Germany

With its rich yet turbulent history, Dresden is often described as being rather quiet and gloomy, but all that changes during the winter months when they city plays host to the Dresden Christmas Market. Established during the 15th Century, this is the oldest festive marketplace in Europe and is renowned for the homemade stollen on offer. Around 250 stallholders take part annually, selling an array of carefully handcrafted trinkets and blown glass holiday decorations.

2. Barcelona, Spain

The beauty of Barcelona is that it provides a refreshing mix of traditional Spanish stores that have been around since the Civil War and modern designer stores famous around the world. The top brands can, of course, be found nestled amongst quaint continental-style cafés along the cosmopolitan Passeig de Gràcia, known for being one of the most pricey avenues in Spain, while souvenir shops and more affordable stores line the nearby streets of Las Ramblas.

3. Paris, France

Anyone with even the vaguest of interest in clothing cannot pass up an opportunity to shop in the fashion capital of the world. The Champs-Élysées is the place to see and be seen in the center of Paris, with store after store dedicated to the latest styles. It’s not all designer clothes though, as this famous stretch from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde also houses toy stores, ice cream parlors and even car showrooms.

4. London, England

Frequently beating down the strong competition, London is often crowned King of shopping opportunities in Europe, with tourism purchases alone thought to contribute a whopping 3 billion pounds, or almost 5 billion dollars, to the British economy. London is famous for its big name department stores and global chains on Oxford Street, but also offers one-of-a-kind fashion boutiques and unconventional independent stores along Carnaby Street and Covent Garden, and a peek inside a Notting Hill bookstore is an absolute must-do activity.

5. Haarlem, Holland

Considered to be Holland’s premier shopping destination, Haarlem boasts numerous awards for its unrivaled shopping facilities. Visitors are drawn to the pretty, historic and, most importantly, pedestrianised Grote Houtstraat where the major brands are located, as well as to the small independent stores lining the surrounding cobbled streets. Situated just 13 miles west of Amsterdam, access is easy whether you arrive by plane, train or one of the many ferries to Holland.

Jennifer Watts, a freelance writer, provided this article for P&O Ferries. The opinions expressed are those of the author and any data provided does not originate from P&O Ferries. The following is a link to the P&O Ferries homepage – https://www.poferries.com/

The post The Top 5 Shopping Destinations in Europe appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by giovanna.alborino

In these beautiful Italian coast you can spend a day or a week. It is only up to you how much you want to learn about this place. If you plan to do the trip to Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park during your holidays in Italy, just get in the car and go. Probably the easiest way how you could get here, is flying to Napoli, then continue by bus or train. The park is located just 100km from Napoli. The park is easily accessible on foot, but do not forget to take the proper shoes with you.

View Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park – paradise for lovers of the sea and nature Italy in a larger map

Gateway to the National Park is an ancient town of Agropoli. Its historic centre, built at the top of a rock outcropping, dominates the whole surroundings. In the medieval town of Castellabate you can relax in one of the nice port restaurants with a view of the mountain and further medieval villages.

The diverse landscape and culture of Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park remained almost unchanged until now. It is due to inaccessible mountains and uncomfortable roads, so the tourists could not get here. Thanks to this you can now see a national park in its original beauty. Coast is full of rocky cliffs and remote sandy beaches, dotted with medieval watchtowers, which are just proving the turbulent history. Massive rocks alternate with grassy plateaus, full of olive orchards and their grandeur will really amaze you. The area is also known as Dolomiti del Mezzogiorno (southern Italian Dolomites).

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by giulio nepi

In Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park you find kilometres of marked trails that take you through all the corners of the park. The dominant of the whole coast is a rocky cape Palinuro, a mythical place of Roman legends. The massif of the cape hides 35 different caves that you can visit with several diving centers. A few kilometres below you find the small town of Marina di Camerota, where you can enjoy Italian coffee with true Neapolitan cake, or you can go to the original Marina village, which lies high in the mountains. If you will still have some free time, you can go to the bay Infreschi or to the Gulf of Policastro.

Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park has finally received a major award in 1998. It was declared a unique cultural monument and inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This national park between the sea and earth, definitely worth visiting.

View Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park – paradise for lovers of the sea and nature Italy in a larger map

The post Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park – paradise for lovers of the sea and nature | Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Hotelsireland

Vikings deliberately chose this location for the founding of the city, they were looking for good berth and found it here. They called this city as Vadrafjord, which can be translated as “The weather port.” Waterford was once protected by defensive walls, which consisted of a total of 17 towers, but only six of them remained until now. The best preserved section leads from the Watchtower, where the Castle Street meets with Parnell Street. The best known and most interesting is Reginald’s Tower (originally Ranguald’s Tower). This cylindrical Norman tower was built by Ranguald Viking in the year 1003. You can find it at the end of the Mall street. For a long time served as a mint, prison and military store. It is the oldest public building throughout Ireland. In 1170 had to be rebuilt after the attack of enemies. Today it houses a small museum.

Besides Reginald’s Tower stands an equestrian statue of General Meagher, a local native, a fighter for the rights of Irish and later General of “Irish Brigade” in the American Civil War. If you want to know the Vikings history of the town then you should visit Waterford Museum of Treasures, which houses the Viking jewelry, daggers, leather shoes, eating bowls and other items. The museum is not only about the Vikings, but also about the turbulent history of this city.

Another interesting sight in Waterford is Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Trinity lit by chandeliers from Waterford crystal. The cathedral is situated in Barronstrand Street and is the only neo – classical Georgian Cathedral in Ireland. Eastward of it, in the Bailey’s New Street, you can then see the Protestant cathedral. It boasts a richly decorated stucco ceiling and also one of very seductive sculpture. It is interesting that both cathedrals were designed by the same architect which cannot boast any other city in Europe.

In the city you should not miss the tour of Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre, where you can learn about the production process of the famous local crystal. This building is probably the most visited attraction and is regularly overcrowded. If you want to see a beautiful hand-carved crystal, you have to arrive early in the morning.

View Waterford – the oldest city in Ireland called the City of Crystal Ireland in a larger map

The post Waterford – the oldest city in Ireland called the City of Crystal | Ireland appeared first on Europe Explored.

One of the most beautiful buildings in Dunkerque is certainly the local town hall dating from the early 20th century. Amongst others, we can notice the facade of the hero image of Jean Bart and his crew. Hall is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Equally beautiful is the Gothic church of Saint-Eloi. During the Second World War was almost completely destroyed, retained only the front wall. Reconstruction took place at the beginning of this millennium, as a reminder of the horrors of war were left craters in the facade of bullet holes. Church of Saint-Eloi was originally connected with a bell tower, in the late 19th century, these buildings were separated. Now, there is a busy street between them. Even the bell tower is part of UNESCO.

Near the port of Dunkerque is Leughenaer tower, which was originally part of the fortifications. Interesting is also the chapel of Notre Dame des Dunes.

In the port we can visit the Maritime Museum, just opposite is a beautiful ship Duchesse Anne, which is also a popular destination for visitors.

View Dunkerque (Dunkirk) – northern city in France in a larger map

The post Dunkerque (Dunkirk) – northern city in France appeared first on Europe Explored.