Car hire Parma

Introduction

The Italian city of Parma is famous for its ham and cheese. It's, however, not only about food: Parma also has a monumental historical center which attracts many tourists annually.

Population

The city has approximately 170,000 inhabitants.

Location

Parma is located on the river of the same name in the fertile Po Valley in northern Italy. The Parma River rises in the Apennines south of the city. Parma lies about halfway Milan (northwest of the city) and Bologna (southeast of Parma).

Economy

Parma has a tradition when it comes to food. The food-processing industry is therefore well represented. Besides the above-mentioned ham and cheese, Parma also houses factories for the processing of tomatoes (puree, juice and ketchup), peas and sweet corn. The dairy company Parmalat is headquartered in the city. Machines for the food-processing industry and agriculture are also manufactured in Parma. Finally, the city houses one of the oldest universities in the world which is a great tourist attraction.

Airports

The city's airport, Aeroporto di Parma ‘Giuseppe Verdi’, is situated less than 4 kilometers northwest of the city center. It's easily reachable by rental car via the Via Reggio and the Strada Cornocchio. You can also take the northern beltway (Tangenziale Nord) to get to Parma Airport.

Public Transport

The city's public transport consists of buses and trolley buses (four lines). There are also bus and train connections with other cities in northern Italy, including Milan, Bologna and La Spezia.

Traffic and Parking

Finding a free parking place in Parma is quite difficult. In the city center parking is reserved for residents. Around the center you have to pay for street parking (only at blue painted curbs). Fortunately there are five parking garages around the center (Goito, Toschi, Duc, Dus and Via Abbeveratoia) where you can easily park your rental car. Alternatively, there are P+R areas on the verge of the city, near the beltway, from where you can continue your journey by public transport.

Hotels

More and more tourists visit Parma which you can tell from the growing number of hotel beds. Parma has a large choice of accommodations, but if you want to visit the city in the summer, we advise booking your hotel room well in advance.

External Sources

For more information about Parma, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Parma
• Official website Parma
• Tourist Information Parma