Ryanair has announced a new route from London Stansted to Parma, Italy, with fares starting from £20.95 one way. The twice-weekly service, operating on Thursdays and Sundays, begins on June 4 and offers a flight time of under two hours, making it ideal for a long weekend getaway.
Parma, located in the Emilia-Romagna region, is renowned for its culinary heritage, particularly Parmesan cheese and Prosciutto di Parma. Visitors can tour cheese factories and the Museo del Parmigiano-Reggiano to learn about cheesemaking, or visit prosciuttifici where the ham is cured for months. Many of these establishments have cafes serving platters of prosciutto and cheese with local wine.
The city's historic centre, Centro Storico, features narrow medieval streets, Romanesque architecture, and cobbled squares. Key landmarks include the 900-year-old cathedral in Piazza del Duomo and the 12th-century Bishop's Palace. Teatro Farnese, one of Europe's largest Baroque theatres, is built entirely from timber and dates back to the 17th century.
As the birthplace of composer Giuseppe Verdi, Parma offers a rich programme of operas and classical concerts. The House of Sound museum explores music technology history, with 228 speakers across 64 audio channels creating immersive 'sound rains'.
Food enthusiasts will find numerous trattorias and osterias, including two Michelin-starred restaurants. Osteria dei Servi and Trattoria Corrieri are highly recommended for their authentic Italian cuisine, with the latter featuring a menu dedicated to cured meats and local ingredients since the 1800s.
