Parma or Modena?

Stay in Bologna.
Day trip to Parma and Modena.
We did the 28 minute train ride to Modena.

We have spent 10 days in Bologna and are planning on 5 more this Fall.

If you prefer to stay in a smaller city like Parma or Modena, you won’t go wrong picking either one. As you said, it’s easy to visit the other by train. Both have excellent restaurants (book a day or two ahead to avoid disappointment).

In Modena, I enjoyed:

• visiting the Romanesque Duomo and its museum
• walking through the modest Roman archeological park Mutina (the city’s main parking garages is underneath it)
• visiting Acetaia Marchi just outside the city for an informative tour of their balsamic vinegar production (short taxi ride from the center)
• Climbing the Ghirlandina tower in Piazza Grande for a view over the city
• Mercato Albinelli covered market
• gelato at Bloom (can recommend the torta di riso flavor and the sour cherry vanilla)
• Evening passeggiata

In Parma I enjoyed

• Il teatro Farnese and the library
• The national gallery
• a half day tour of Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto crudo di Parma makers
• Gelato at Ciacco (can recommend the lemon basil and the ricotta with chestnut honey flavors)
• We didn’t have time to visit the cathedral.

Just to give you some possible ideas.
Buon viaggio!

Thanks for your detailed reply. We haven't decided yet where to stay but we will look into many of your recommendations.

Something else to consider if of interest to you (I have no first hand experience with it) is visiting the Ferrari museum, etc

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/travel-to-modena-maranello-ferrari-lamborghini-from-bologna

If you like opera, the Verdi Festival is in Parma in October (until the 19th)
https://www.visitemilia.com/en/events/3695/parma-festival-verdi

I stayed in both locations last October (Parma for 3 nights while taking a cooking class and Modena for 1 night) and enjoyed both. In Parma, get some gelato at Ciacco.

p.s. Just noticed Accidental Southerner has same gelato recommendation. They have lots of interesting flavors.

We stayed in Parma for 1 night in May and fell in love with this lovely small city. I wish we had an extra night or two. We didn't see Modena so I can't compare. Parma was not crowded at all in May. We loved visiting the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo) and the Battistero. We thoroughly enjoyed just wandering around the city; walked across the bridge (I love places with rivers running through them). There was a very interesting flea market going on near the river. We didn't have time for the Palazzo della Pilotta.

If you decide to stay in Parma, we loved our stay at Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati, which is literally right next to the Duomo. They upgraded us, at no extra charge, to a huge 2-bedroom apartment. When I saw it, I wished we were staying a week!

We also much preferred Parma to Bologna. We like Bologna but didn't fall in love with it.

I stayed twice in the hotel Kmkwoo mentioned in Parma and like the location a lot. La Forchetta around the corner had wonderful food! You will need a reservation. I ate there during both trips.

I’ve stayed in 45+ cities in Italy, and my favorite cathedral interior is still the Parma Csthedral - gorgeous warm-colored frescoes lining the aisle, plus more interesting items in the front.

I haven’t stayed in Modena, yet, but I will be there in September.

I also wouldn’t stay in Bologna if I could stay in Parma. Bologna just didn’t have the same appeal personally to me as all of the other Emilia Romagna cities I have stayed.

I also wouldn’t stay in Bologna if I could stay in Parma

Valid point of view that is about 180 degrees from my own. We loved staying in Bologna and found it to be a great headquarters from which to explore Parma, Modena and Ravenna. There's sure a tremendous amount of culture and excellent cuisine in Bologna.

doctored5, we also like charming small towns where we can immerse ourselves in the culture and really get our arms around it. I have debated this same question: Parma vs Modena for a couple of years now, as my travels took me to Spain and England instead ... hence, Italy waits.

We have zero interest in Italian sports cars so that is not a draw to Modena for us. However, I wonder if Modena is a little more "buzzy" than Parma -- I don't know.

I am drawn to Parma for its elegant architecture and French influence, shops on Via Mazzini, restaurants, piazzas, the Palazzo della Pilotta complex. And I believe it is slightyl arger than Modena.

Modena has the gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage cathedral and the Mercato Albinelli food market!

It's a tough decision -- can't wait to hear what you select! Where else are you going?

From a local point of view, both cities are very similar and both can be used as a base.
Both cities were capitals of their respective countries for some centuries and that affect the architecture and life. So you find churches, buildings and monuments. In both there is a fantastic Cathedral (even I prefer the one in Modena because I prefer the freedom of the Medieval art than the Renaissance art of the one in Parma, but I know that for the Americans is the opposite). And in both there is a top level museum to be visited (Pilotta in parma and Gallerie Estensi in Modena): two very eclectic museums, not only about painting but even archeology, books, music. In both can be done side excursion to visit food producers, even if now I believe that Modena is offering something better in term of restaurants.
The size of both cities is very similar: around 200K inhabitants (a little more Parma, a little less Modena).
Both cities can be the base for very interesting day trips around, to visit villages, castles and other things!

Thank you Ricky!

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. We decided we're going to stay in Parma. We've found a great looking B&B. But one reason is the Verdi festival. We got tickets to see the gala during our stay. We will do a day trip to Modena (I'm going to pass on the Lamborghini rental though). We look forward to trying gelato and restaurants that you've recommended.

Grazie