Along the banks of the Taro River, near Collecchio, you will come across the splendid Corte di Giarola, or courtly grounds built in 1000 along the Via Francigena. It is an ancient agricultural production site with stalls, a dairy, pig raising facilities and a 19th century tomato-preserving factory. Today, it is the didactic center of the Parco Fluviale del Taro. It has been selected to house the Tomato Museum, which is due to open next year. The museum will include ancient machinery, models, photos and documents relating to this American fruit and the Parma farmlands, its new home.

The tour of the Food Museums will soon be enriched by the creation of a Pasta Museum, in Giarola with old objects and machinery donated by Barilla, and a Wine Museum in the cellars of Rocca in Sala Baganza.

In addition to the museums, you can explore the regional food culture by following special itineraries or “roads” directing you to vineyards, culatello producers, prosciutto producers, and porcini mushroom vendors. The entire province is saturated in food, flavor and aroma.