Geography of Parma
Parma, Italy, the capital of Parma Province. It is on the Parma River in north-central Italy, about 225 miles (360 km) northwest of Rome. The city is the traditional trading center for a rich agricultural area. Processed foods, textiles, shoes, and industrial machinery are produced. Fresco paintings by Correggio adorn Parma's Romanesque cathedral and convent. The university here was founded in 1502.
Parma became a Roman colony in 183 B.C. It was ruled in various periods by France, local families, and Austria. In 1860 Parma voted to join the Kingdom of Sardinia, and in 1861 it became part of the newly formed Italian nation. The city was badly damaged during World War II.
Population: 167,504.