Italian fashion and food are the key themes for visiting Parma. The city centre is full of fashion boutiques: the most important shopping streets are via Garibaldi, Strada della Repubblica, via Cavour, via Mazzini and via Massimo D’Azeglio. Spend some time unhurriedly browsing clothes, leather goods and stylish shoes — treat yourself!
For food, there are many shops with not only Parma ham and Parmesan cheese, but also an impressive variety of salted pork meats (try culatello and Felino salami), pasta and wines.
In the many pastry shops, you can pick up the typical Parma cake called the Duchessa Maria Luigia and sweets called violette di Parma (violets of Parma). Violetta di Parma is also the name of the essence made in honour of the Duchess Maria Luigia — an olfactory gem of the region.
Lastly, Parma has also a district of antiques shops and art galleries, which are located along Strada Farini, via XXII luglio and Strada della Repubblica.
