Parma

Sliced in halves by River Parma, this northern Italian city is best known for its contributions to the culinary world - Parma Ham and Parmigiano Reggiano. Parma is the city of Verdi where the well-heeled waltz to the Teatro Regio for opera performances of artists revered globally; it is also host to one of the world's oldest universities. Alongside these lofty accolades, the old town of Parma also has a wealthy cache of Romanesque architecture, anchored by the 11th-century Parma Cathedral, resplendently adorned with frescoes and a marble Baptistry that is worthy of mention all on its own. The Palazzo della Pilotta, on the other hand, ensconces the National Gallery where the works of master artists like Canaletto and Correggio beckon to those with a taste for the fine arts. There are several other grand theaters, historic churches and illuminating museums that demand a visit, but at its core, Parma remains a city of epicurean delights where people meet and greet over a glass of Lambrusco, with fresh prosciutto and aged parmesan always at hand.