In Italy, art is also transmitted through the culture of food and this is demonstrated by the presence of numerous museums dedicated to culinary art and, in particular in the Parma area, we find the Musei del Cibo museum network.
The province of Parma is an area that stands out for its excellence in the agro-food sector.
Located in the heart of the Po Valley, Parma is famous for its typical products, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and Culatello di Zibello, which bear European trademarks guaranteeing their origin and characteristics.
Parma is also home to some of the most prestigious companies in the sector, such as Barilla, Parmalat and Granarolo, which export ‘Made in Parma’ products all over the world. The city also has a modern Food and Logistics Centre, where the fruit and vegetable market activities take place, offering services and opportunities to producers, businesses and consumers.
The province of Parma is thus an area that combines tradition and innovation, quality and sustainability, while respecting its identity and territory.
The Musei del Cibo (Food Museums) museum network is a cultural and tourism project involving eight museums dedicated to typical food products in the Province of Parma. The museums are:
THE MUSEUM OF PARMESAN CHEESE
The museum of Parmigiano Reggiano is a museum dedicated to the history, culture and gastronomy of the famous Italian cheese, which has very ancient origins. The museum is located in Soragna, in the province of Parma, inside an old cheese factory used for centuries for cheese production.
In the museum you can admire hundreds of vintage objects and images that tell of the stages of milk processing, the slow ripening and marketing of the cheese, the fundamental role of the Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano in safeguarding quality, and the priceless joy of tasting. The museum also offers an entire menu for enjoying the King of Cheeses, a literary anthology on Parmigiano Reggiano, from Boccaccio to the present day, and a section dedicated to Parmigiano Reggiano in art throughout the centuries.
THE PASTA MUSEUM
The Pasta Museum is a must for all lovers of this speciality, symbol of Italy.
It is located in Collecchio, in the medieval agricultural court of Giarola, near the Taro Park. The museum offers an exhibition that tells the history, tradition, technology, culture and gastronomy of pasta, from wheat to the table. In the museum you can see old mills, industrial production machines, home-made pasta tools, vintage advertisements, works of art and recipes.
The museum also organises events, workshops, guided tours and educational activities for visitors of all ages.
THE TOMATO MUSEUM
The Tomato Museum in Parma is a museum that celebrates the tomato, a food product that is very popular and appreciated in Italy and around the world.
The museum is located in Collecchio, in the medieval agricultural court of Giarola, near the Taro Park. The museum recounts the history, tradition, technology, culture and gastronomy of the tomato, from its arrival in Europe in the 16th century, to its spread to the Parma area in the late 19th century, to the birth of a powerful canning and processing industry, to its triumph on the table.
In the museum you can see photos, documents, videos, models, interactive screens, packaging, can openers, publications, curious objects and recipes illustrating the world of red gold. The museum also offers an entire menu in which the tomato is the protagonist, a literary anthology on the tomato, from the 16th century to the present day, and a section dedicated to the tomato in art throughout the centuries.
The Wine Museum
The Parma Wine Museum is a museum that celebrates wine, a food product that is very popular and appreciated in Italy and around the world.
The museum is located in Sala Baganza, in the medieval agricultural court of Giarola, near the Taro Park. The museum offers an exhibition and sensorial itinerary dedicated to Parma wine, its history and culture, in six different sections that range from the archaeology of wine in the Parma area to viticulture and the characteristics of the vine, from grape harvesting and winemaking to the history of containers and related trades, from the pioneers of the sector to the wines and wineries to visit, and the role of the Consorzio dei Vini dei Colli di Parma.
The museum also organises events, workshops, guided tours and educational activities for visitors of all ages.
THE FELINO SALAMI MUSEUM
The Salame di Felino museum celebrates one of Italy's most renowned salami, produced in the Felino area in the province of Parma. The museum is located in the cellars of Felino Castle, an ancient manor house dating back to the year 890.
In the museum, the history, tradition, technology, culture and gastronomy of Felino salami can be discovered through images, documents, videos, models, objects and testimonies from the period. The museum also offers an entire menu to enjoy the Prince of Salami, a literary anthology on Felino salami, from the 16th century to the present day, and a section dedicated to Felino salami in art throughout the centuries.
THE PARMA HAM MUSEUM
The Parma Ham Museum is a museum that celebrates ham, a food product that is very popular and appreciated in Italy and around the world. The museum is located in Langhirano, in the province of Parma, inside the former Foro Boario, a former animal market.
In the museum you can discover the history, tradition, technology, culture and gastronomy of Parma ham, through images, documents, videos, models, objects and period testimonies. The museum also offers an entire menu to enjoy the King of cured meats, a literary anthology on Parma ham, and a section dedicated to Parma ham in art through time.
THE ZIBELLO CULATELLO MUSEUM
The Culatello di Zibello Museum is a museum celebrating culatello, a typical cured meat from the Parma lowlands, produced from the back of the pig's leg. The museum is located in Polesine Parmense, in the Antica Corte Pallavicina, a historical complex dating back to the 10th century.
The museum tells the history, tradition, technology, culture and gastronomy of culatello, through images, documents, videos, models, objects and testimonies from the period. The museum also offers an entire menu to enjoy this cured meat with its unmistakable taste, a literary anthology on culatello, and a section dedicated to culatello in art.
THE BOLETUS MUSHROOM MUSEUM IN BORGOTARO
The Porcino Mushroom Museum in Borgotaro is a museum celebrating the Porcino Mushroom, a type of mushroom much appreciated for its unique characteristics and unmistakable aroma.
The museum has two exhibition sites, one in Borgo Val di Taro and one in Albareto, in the province of Parma. The museum recounts the history, tradition, technology, culture and gastronomy of the porcino mushroom through images, documents, videos, models, objects and period testimonies. The museum also offers an entire menu to enjoy this delicacy, a literary anthology on the porcini mushroom, and a section dedicated to the porcini mushroom in art.
