Valentine’s Day in Parma: Two Hearts and a Romantic City

Parma is a city for lovers and a city that makes you fall in love. For its elegant streets, its monuments, its musical tradition (and even its cuisine).

Hand in hand, you can discover the “Little Paris” of Emilia-Romagna—as its inhabitants like to call it—and feel its heart beating in Piazza Garibaldi, with its splendid 360° view of the Governor’s Palace, the dome of the Basilica della Steccata, the Church of San Pietro, and the Portici del Grano.
A romantic itinerary cannot ignore these stops among monuments, palaces, small villages, and romantic alleys…come with us!

Piazza Garibaldi – the crossroads of Parma’s “dolce vita” with outdoor seating, aperitivo, trendy shops, and boutiques selling local delicacies. It boasts a splendid view of the Governor’s Palace, the dome of the Basilica della Steccata, the Church of San Pietro, and the Portici del Grano.

St. Paul’s Complex – a magical place, a treasure trove of emotions and treasures such as the Stuard Art Gallery, the sculptural groups by Jean-Baptiste Boudard depicting mythological loves of immortal fascination inside the Cloister of St. Paul, and of course the wonderful St. Paul’s Chamber!

A romantic stroll along Lungo Parma – admiring the colorful houses, we cross Ponte Verdi to the Ducal Park, where you can admire the Temple of Arcadia and the beautiful sculptures along the avenues.

Pilotta Monumental Complex – Leaving the Ducal Park, you find yourself facing this imposing complex, which houses the magnificent 17th-century Teatro Farnese, built entirely of wood, a daydream, a place that holds stories of distant eras of love and court intrigue, weddings and lavish balls.

Glauco Lombardi Museum – Stories of love and “love” for Parma, such as that of Duchess Maria Luigia of Austria. Much loved by the people of Parma (who loved her back), this beautiful museum explores the intimate life of this sovereign—former wife of Napoleon Bonaparte—and her passions through everyday objects, her letters, her clothing, and her wedding gifts. In Parma, she crowned her love for Count Neipperg, whose tomb is located in the beautiful Church of the Steccata.

Love Stories: Some of the most beautiful love stories have been told in the castles surrounding the ducal city, places rich in art, history, and legends waiting to be discovered.
Like that of the green-eyed lady Bianca, said to protect the most secret passions: Torrechiara Castle, a few kilometers from Parma, was the setting in 1400 for the love affair between Bianca Pellegrini and Pier Maria Rossi, which lives on in the extraordinary “Golden Chamber,” attributed to Benedetto Bembo. Discover the story of this castle’s ghost!

Montechiarugolo Castle, also not far from the city, is the realm of the Fairy Bema, whose ghost appears to young women on the eve of their weddings, to engaged couples, or to lovers. Legend has it that, in 1593, Bema first arrived at the Farnese court and asked Ranuccio I to read his hand. However, the sovereign, fearful of the occult, ordered the girl’s arrest and imprisonment.
But a fascinating story is also kept at Bardi Castle, where ancient legend tells the tale of Moroello and Soleste.

Finally, every year for Valentine’s Day, fascinating places like the Colorno Royal Palace and the Masone Labyrinth organize themed visits or events.