Parma is a city located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It serves as the second most populous city in the region, following the capital, Bologna, with a population of 202,111 inhabitants as of 2025. The city's name was adapted by the Romans from an Etruscan term to describe a round shield.
The city is geographically divided into two parts by a stream of the same name. The district situated on the west side of the river is known as Oltretorrente, which translates to "the other side of the stream." Parma is well-known for its architecture, music, art, and surrounding countryside, as well as for its production of cheese and prosciutto.
Parma is also home to the University of Parma, which is recognized as one of the oldest universities in the world.