Modena OR Parma..What is best for a 3 night stay?

Depends on your interests. I would choose Parma as I think there are more places of interest to me both in the city and in the surrounding area.

Parma. The duomo is spectacular. The city is just beautiful. Modena is nice, quiet, smaller but really just a day trip destination.

In Parma we stayed at Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati, very nice, good breakfast, and location. Close to the wonderful cathedral and baptistery. Parma has good train connections, so a daytrip to Modena was very easy.

Thanks so much for the recommendations.

I was having the same debate and decided on Parma. I was thinking of spending 1 day in Bologna and 2 days in Parma for a somewhat food-centric tour. Would it be simpler to just base in Parma for all 3 days and drive? We will be coming from Venice so going straight to Parma is not a big deal.

We are off the beaten track travellers that love tasting and learning about regional food, wine, culture and architecture. We really want to visit the museum in Spilamberto. We've been to Bologna a few times so not visiting there this time.
We are renting a car in Verona and doing a 7 night loop.
Day 1 looping around Lake Garda and then overnight in Montichiari to visit family.
Day 2 drive down through Cremona to Parma
Day 2,3,4 ???? where to stay? One place, 3 places, country? city? I've been to Italy many times and for some reason this is really stumping me....haha. We are debating between Parma, Modena, Reggio Emilia or some small town or country stay.
Day 5,6 Mantua
Day 7 Vicenza.
...then we are off to Venice for 5 nights, Padua for 2 and Milan for 5...It's going to be interesting.

Any suggestions based on this Itinerary would be appreciated

Another recommendation for the Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati which is across the piazza from the Parma Cathedral. My husband & I stayed there in 2016, and I stayed there again in 2022 - chose the same room!

The cathedral interior is my favorite one for frescoes in Italy. La Forchetta restaurant expanded since I was there the first time, and I had another wonderful meal there. They now use some of the courtyard of the hotel. Be sure to get reservations.

You can check out the list on TripAdvisor of the top sites. Check and see if there’s an event at the Teatro when you’re there. I really liked walking south on the pedestrian street Borgo Bruno Longhi (that one or one parallel) to stop for a mid-morning espresso and browse. And the street/area where the Gioelia Cremeria Parma Centro is located is nice, also. If you like a walking park - not flowers, the Parco Ducale is great for running or to take a bike.

Since you have a car, I would go out to see Castle of Torrechiara, also.

Hi Michelle, I see we were writing at the same time. Here’s my 2022 trip report that covers several places you’re going. Sounds like you’re planning a wonderful trip!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-please-do-not-comment-until-i-change-the-title-filling-in-the-report-thanks

” Day 2,3,4 ???? where to stay? One place, 3 places, country? city? I've been to Italy many times and for some reason this is really stumping me....haha.”

How about two nights in Parma, a stop in Modena to see their market, etc. and stay at something like Villa Pacchioni near Cavezzo in the countryside?

Thanks you everyone for your help!!! And, thanks Jean for sharing the link to your itinerary. You are one adventurous person and I loved reading everything.
We have actually decided to stay in one location, an agriturismo near Spilamberto and just do day trips. We've also extended our trip by a day so we will be there for 4 nights. I also reached out to a tour guide in Spilamberto and she also helped me nail down the itinerary. We are really looking forward to it. When we come home I might ad to this forum string to let everyone know how it all worked out.