we are making a home base for 2 nights in either parma or modena. Does anyone have any thoughts on which city has more charm? Enjoy night time strolling, and good dining thank you
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1003 posts
I did not go to Modena, so I can't compare, but Parma does have nice evening strolling and of course great food, it's Emilia-Romagna after all :)And, if you stay overnight in Parma, you have a chance to go out to a cheese dairy (I took an inexpensive taxi to one and a friendly professor from a study abroad trip on my tour let me hop their bus back to town:)) to see the whole cheese-making process, which is one of my favorite memories in three trips to Italy. The tours are free through the Parmigiano-Reggiano consortium and are offered in English. They start early in the morning because that's when the milk comes in fresh. Worth it.
Posted by
Portland, OR
282 posts
We LOVED our three nights in Parma. Great time strolling and, of course, eating. Fantastic food every place we dined.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15246 posts
Parma should be your number one choice between the two. It's definitely a beautiful town. Modena is however very charming also, especially Piazza Grande and surroundings. If you are in the area you might as well visit Modena as well. It's worth a visit (also at the Ferrari factory, if your husband is into sports cars). If this is the same trip where your husband wanted to go to Portofino, Parma is also more strategically located because you can take the 'autostrada' A15 from Parma to La Spezia and just before La Spezia you can take the A12 toward Genova (Genoa). Exit at Rapallo, and you'll get to Portofino within minutes. Takes about two hours from Parma (or much less if you got a Ferrari at the factory in Maranello, next to Modena). PS: avoid Portofino on weekends or you'll be stuck on the road from Santa Margherita for hours. Also parking in Portofino is really hard to find.