Province of Parma

The Province of Parma (Provincia di Parma) is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Parma.

It has an area of 3,449 km², and a total population of 413,198 (2005). There are 47 comuni (singular: comune) in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Parma.

Comuni
The main comuni by population are:

Cuisine
Parma is famous for its Prosciutto di Parma. The whole area is renowned for its sausage production, as well as for the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and some kind of pasta like gnocchi di patate, cappelletti (or anolini) in broth, tortelli with different stuffing (erbetta, potatoes, pumpkin, mushrooms, chestnuts, Tortél Dóls di Colorno) and chicche.

Highways
There are two main highways that go through Parma: A1 and A15.

Airport
The Province of Parma is served by the Giuseppe Verdi Airport.

Railways
The province is crossed by the Milan-Bologna railroad, one of the most important in Italy, with a station in Parma. The latter is the starting point for the following lines, connecting the city to the Tyrrhenian Sea, Alps and the Po River delta:
 * Pontremolese line, with a branch to Fidenza and Fornovo di Taro
 * Parma-Piadena-Brescia
 * Parma-Suzzara (held by Ferrovie Emilia Romagna Srl.

The station of Fidenza is an exchange point for the lines:
 * Fidenza-Salsomaggiore Terme
 * Fidenza-Cremona

Sport
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 but is being renovated in 2008 after the club was demoted to Serie B. In spring 2009 the team was promoted again in the top league (Serie A). Crociati Noceto play in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, the fourth tier.

Parma is also home to two rugby union teams in the top national division, Overmach Rugby Parma and SKG Gran Rugby.

Parma Panthers is the Parma American football team for which John Grisham's book Playing for Pizza was based.

Also volleyball, women basketball and baseball have large popularity in the city and have scored relevant successes.