We met up at 9:15 and walked to the Piazza Garibaldi for our walking tour of the town. We were met by our guide Alicia, who gave us a very comprehensive tour.
In Italy the masterpieces are found in the churches. Google “duomo in Parma, Italy” for details.
The baptistery across the square is also an architectural wonder, with frescos from floor to ceiling. I did a couple of videos but was unable to upload then to this site, unfortunately. Folding chairs are provided in both buildings for better viewing.
The afternoon was free but museums were closed so after a light lunch with Ann, I headed back to put my feet up, read, and spend needed time on the last post.
Our included dinner this evening was in a traditional restaurant with courses from the area. The starter course was cold cuts and Parmesan-reggiano cheese, with fruit compote, washed down with a sparkling red wine of the area. Then we switched to a more hearty red wine, with the pasta dishes shown above, which have been in existence since the 1200’s. My favorite was the one on the right with pumpkin. Our main course was black pork cheeks -melt-in-your-mouth marvelous – with roasted potatoes. The sorbet was to aid with digestion, followed by a local liqueur and small cookies that could be dipped in either the dark chocolate provided or the liqueur, or both. We had a 20 minute walk coming and going from our hotel, which was a good thing. Food, drink and merriment was had by all!
Tuesday: we get out of town for a day in the country, with a visit to a beautiful manor home famous for making cured cold cuts, known as salumi, followed by a boat ride down the Po river, and a picnic in the cabin of a fisherman. Stay tuned!