Savor the Flavor of Parma

 Christmas Day 2022

Streets of Parma at night!


What a day! We woke up in Orlando, Florida and went to bed in Parma, Italy!


Sandwiched in between was a flight to Amsterdam (with a very brief layover) and another flight to Milan. 

Amsterdam Airport!

A bus shuttled us from Milan-Linate Airport to Milano Centrale where we boarded a train to Parma.

Milano Centrale Train Station

By the time we arrived in Parma, December 26th’s sun had set! Although it was only a mile to our hotel, we took a taxi due to not knowing the area, along with being completely exhausted!

We spent the night at Palazzo Della Rosso Prati. This building was built in the 1400s as the bishop’s palace! After checking in and getting settled, we headed out for dinner at the nearby Gallo D’Oro. Many restaurants were closed, as it was Saint Stephen’s feast day, a national holiday.

Our antipasti!

Having heard recommendations from several people, we ordered torta fritta, which is fried cake and prosciutto di Parma for starters, followed by tris di tortellini conditi con burro fuso e Parmigiano Reggiano and cappelletti in brodo di Cappone Manzo e Gallina  for our primo piatto (first plate)!  We worked up an appetite simply trying to figure out what we had ordered!  I don’t think we could have gone wrong whatever we chose!  Everything was delicious!  Local, traditional, and flavorful! 

Duomo di Parma (next door to our hotel!)


The walk from our hotel to the restaurant was amazing!  It’s such a romantic scene!  Everything was beautifully decorated for Christmas and many people were out for strolls. We saw a street artist working his marionette show, sidewalk musicians, and stunning light displays.  I had been thinking a winter visit was not the best time for a trip to Italy, due to the short amount of daylight, but that’s absolutely not the case! 

Before leaving Parma, we took in the Cathedral, Baptisty and museum gin Piazza di Duomo. Being that it was all just next door to our hotel, it was certainly easy to find! 


Parma - what a wonderful city!


The interior of the baptistry is stunning - and still used today!

Queen Sheba listening to King Solomon’s wise words!

Up next: Bologna!

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