# Parma

> city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna

**Wikidata**: [Q2683](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2683)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parma)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/parma

## Summary
Parma is a historic city and comune located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, serving as the administrative capital of the Province of Parma. Home to a population of 196,764 residents as of 2023, the city covers an area of 260.6 square kilometers and is situated on the banks of the Parma River. It is internationally recognized as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and holds the Gold Medal of Military Valour.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Northern Italy, region of Emilia-Romagna; coordinates 44.8015°N, 10.328°E.
- **Area**: 260.6 square kilometres (as of October 9, 2011).
- **Elevation**: 69 metres above sea level.
- **Population**: 196,764 (as of January 1, 2023).
- **Time Zone**: UTC+01:00 (standard) / UTC+02:00 (daylight saving).
- **Capital Of**: Province of Parma (current); Department of Taro (1808–1814).
- **Postal Code**: 43121–43126.
- **Dialling Code**: 0521.
- **License Plate**: PR.
- **ISTAT Code**: 034027.
- **Demonym**: Parmigiani (masculine plural).
- **Patron Saint**: Hilary of Poitiers.
- **UNESCO Status**: Creative City of Gastronomy (since 2015).
- **Seismic Classification**: Zone 3.
- **Historical Sovereignty**: Part of France (1802–1814), the Papal States (until 1545), and the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (1545–1802, 1815–1859).

## FAQs

**What is Parma’s role in regional governance?**
Parma serves as the capital city of the Province of Parma. Historically, it also functioned as the capital of the Department of Taro during the Napoleonic era (1808–1814).

**What international recognition has the city received?**
In 2015, Parma was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. It was also nominated for the Italian Capital of Culture in 2016 and received the Gold Medal of Military Valour.

**What are the demographic details of Parma?**
As of January 1, 2023, the resident population is 196,764. Previous counts recorded 195,687 residents in 2018, 194,417 in 2017, and 194,152 in 2016.

**Which cities are twinned with Parma?**
Parma maintains twinning relationships with Worms (Germany), Shijiazhuang (China), Bourg-en-Bresse (France), Tours (France, since 1976), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Szeged (Hungary, since 1988), Stockton (USA), Bratislava (Slovakia), Guadalajara (Spain), Cluj-Napoca (Romania), and Rosario (Argentina).

**Where is Parma located geographically?**
The city is situated in northern Italy within the Emilia-Romagna region. It lies next to the Parma River and is surrounded by the municipalities of Collecchio, Felino, Fontanellato, Gattatico, Langhirano, Lesignano de' Bagni, Montechiarugolo, Noceto, Sala Baganza, Torrile, Traversetolo, Sissa Trecasali, Sant'Ilario d'Enza, Fontevivo, and Sorbolo Mezzani.

## Why It Matters
Parma holds significant weight in Italian culture and history due to its distinct culinary heritage and political past. As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, it acts as a global reference point for food culture, a status reinforced by its historical identity as a "big city" and medieval commune. Politically, the city offers a unique case study in European sovereignty; it transitioned through rule by the Papal States, the French Empire (under Napoleon), and the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza before joining the Kingdom of Italy in 1860. Its award of the Gold Medal of Military Valour further underscores its historical resilience and national importance.

## Notable For
- **Gastronomy**: Designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015.
- **Military Honor**: Recipient of the Gold Medal of Military Valour.
- **Sports Infrastructure**: Owns the Stadio Ennio Tardini and Sergio Lanfranchi Stadium.
- **Cultural Nomination**: Nominated as the Italian Capital of Culture for 2016.
- **Historical Sovereignty**: Formerly the seat of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza and part of the French Empire.
- **Global Connectivity**: Maintains sister-city agreements with 11 international cities across four continents.

## Body

### Geography and Climate
Parma is situated in the Po Valley of northern Italy at an elevation of 69 metres. The city's geographical coordinates are 44.801472°N latitude and 10.328°E longitude. It spans a total area of 260.6 square kilometres. The city is bisected by the Parma River. Its seismic classification is Zone 3, indicating a moderate risk of earthquakes.

The municipality shares borders with numerous surrounding localities: Collecchio, Felino, Fontanellato, Fontevivo, Gattatico, Langhirano, Lesignano de' Bagni, Montechiarugolo, Noceto, Sala Baganza, Sant'Ilario d'Enza, Sissa Trecasali, Sorbolo Mezzani, Torrile, and Traversetolo.

The city's territorial extents are defined by the following coordinate points:
- **Northernmost**: 44.9018699°N, 10.2913691°E
- **Southernmost**: 44.6639752°N, 10.3093435°E
- **Easternmost**: 44.8205793°N, 10.4430681°E
- **Westernmost**: 44.8064199°N, 10.2145574°E

### Demographics and Society
The population of Parma has shown steady growth in recent years.
- **2023**: 196,764 (Preferred/Current Statistic)
- **2018**: 195,687
- **2017**: 194,417
- **2016**: 194,152
Residents are known as *Parmigiani* (masculine plural). The city observes daylight saving time, shifting from UTC+1 (standard) to UTC+2.

### Political History and Sovereignty
Parma has a complex history of sovereignty, changing ruling states multiple times between the 16th and 19th centuries:
1.  **Papal States**: Until September 15, 1545.
2.  **Duchy of Parma and Piacenza**: September 16, 1545 – October 31, 1802.
3.  **France**: November 1, 1802 – April 10, 1814.
4.  **Duchy of Parma and Piacenza**: April 11, 1814 – December 7, 1859.
5.  **United Provinces of Central Italy**: December 8, 1859 – March 21, 1860.
6.  **Italy**: March 22, 1860 – Present (Preferred status).

During the French rule, the city was part of the Department of Taro (capital from 1808 to 1814). Since December 1, 1859, it has been formally located within the Province of Parma.

### Culture, Awards, and Recognition
Parma is deeply embedded in global cultural networks.
- **UNESCO**: Joined the Creative Cities Network in 2015 specifically as a "City of Gastronomy."
- **Awards**: The city holds the Gold Medal of Military Valour.
- **Religion**: The patron saint is Hilary of Poitiers.
- **Media**: The city maintains an official website (comune.parma.it), an Instagram account (comuneparma), and hosts a wide array of Wikipedia language editions (123 site links).

The city is the subject of or described by numerous historical encyclopedias, including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Brockhaus and Efron, and the Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron.

### Infrastructure and Sports
The municipality owns several major sports facilities:
- Stadio Ennio Tardini
- Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi (also listed as Sergio Lanfranchi Stadium)
- Nino Cavalli Stadium
- Q3967864 (Stadium identifier)

### International Relations
Parma is actively engaged in international twinning (sister city) agreements:
- **Worms** (Germany)
- **Shijiazhuang** (China)
- **Bourg-en-Bresse** (France)
- **Tours** (France, since 1976)
- **Ljubljana** (Slovenia)
- **Szeged** (Hungary, since 1988)
- **Stockton** (USA)
- **Bratislava** (Slovakia)
- **Guadalajara** (Spain)
- **Cluj-Napoca** (Romania)
- **Rosario** (Argentina)

### Authority Control and Identifiers
Parma is indexed in major international knowledge bases and libraries.
- **Geographic**: GeoNames (6540120), OpenStreetMap (Node 69300007, Relation 43452), UN/LOCODE (ITPMF).
- **Libraries**: Library of Congress (n79021799), VIAF (160413031), Bibliothèque nationale de France (11945625w), National Library of Israel (987007554957705171).
- **Cultural**: MusicBrainz Area ID (7e6fbb87-7482-4481-a44c-ea0e7a17d0b2), Instagram (comuneparma).
- **Italian Administration**: ISTAT ID (034027), Italian Cadastre Code (G337), IPA Code (c_g337).

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://www.tours.fr/action-municipale/364-jumelages-et-partenariats.htm#par2406)
3. [Source](https://www.szegedvaros.hu/aranyoldalak/parma-olaszorszag/)
4. [Source](http://szegedtourism.hu/hu/parma-olaszorszag/)
5. BnF authorities
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Czech National Authority Database
9. MusicBrainz
10. [Source](http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2016gen/index02.html)
11. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html)
12. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2017. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2017/index3.html)
13. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it)
14. BBC Things
15. [Source](https://www.comune.parma.it)
16. [Source](https://it-ch.topographic-map.com/map-59vz4/Parma/?zoom=19&center=44.80096%2C10.32837&popup=44.80114%2C10.3285)
17. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
18. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
19. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
20. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/850d33ad-bd7c-4ae3-9ee9-a5b436fcbb1c)
21. Provenio
22. Seismic classification in Italy
23. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)
24. museum-digital