Everyone knows a bit about Italy’s breadbasket, the Emilia Romagna region, even if they don’t realize it. It’s the home of several of Italy’s most important foodstuffs: balsamic vinegar of Modena, stuffed pastas like tortellini, Lambrusco wine, and perhaps its most famous: prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

These last two are from the Parma province particularly – an area rich in history and culture as well as food. Here are just a few of our favorite spots. Parma itself is a big city by our standards, but we still enjoy a visit there. The Duomo (cathedral) is tremendous; the 12th-century Baptistery is one of Italy’s most important architectural wonders; and the city’s Galleria Nazionale is a sprawling trove of fascinating history.