Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia- Romagna famous for its prosciutto, cheese, architecture and surrounding countryside. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world. Parma is divided into two parts by the little stream with the same name. Parma's Etruscan name was adapted by Romans to describe the round shield called Parma.

Parma is famous for its food and rich gastronomical tradition: Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (also produced in Reggio Emilia), Prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham). Parma claims several stuffed pasta dishes like "tortelli d'erbetta" and "anolini in brodo".

In 2004 Parma was appointed the seat of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Parma also has two food multinationals, Barilla and Parmalat and a food tourism sector represented by Parma Golosa and Food Valley.

Parma F.C. was founded in 1913, it is a Serie A football club renowned in Italy and Europe for its successes including three national cups, a European Cup Winner's Cup, two UEFA Cups, a European Supercup and an Italian Supercup. It plays in the city's Stade Ennio Tardini which used to host up to 29,000 spectators was renovated in 2008 after the club was demoted to Serie B. In spring 2009 the team was promoted again in the top league.

Parma is also home to two rugby union teams in the top national division, Overmach Rugby Parma and SKG Gran Rugby, and Zebre, a new franchise in the Pro12 competition, replacing Aironi. Parma Panthers is the Parma American football team for which John Grisham's book Playing for Pizza was based.

During the Napoleonic Wars (1802–1814), Parma was part of the Taro Departement, under its French name Parme, it was also created a duche grand-fief de l'Empire for Charles Francois Lebrun, the Emperor's Arch-Treasurer, on 24 April 1808.

During World War II, Parma was a strong centre of partisan resistance. The train station and marshalling yards were targets for high altitude bombing by the Allies in the spring of 1944. Much of the Palazzo della Pilotta — situated not far from the train station — was destroyed. Several other monuments were damaged: Palazzo del Giardino, Steccata church, San Giovanni church, Palazzo Ducale, Paganini theater and the monument to Verdi, however Parma did not see widespread destruction during the war. Parma was liberated of the German occupation (1943–1945) on April 26, 1945 by the partisan resistance and troops. Recently Parma was chosen for the setting of John Grisham's American Football comedy Playing for Pizza.