Facts about Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna Parma is famous for its architecture and the fine countryside around it. It is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in Italy. Parma is divided into two parts by the little stream with the same name. The city was most probably founded and named by the Etruscans, for a parma (circular shield) was a Latin borrowing, as were many Roman terms for particular arms, and Parmeal, Parmni and Parmnial are names that appear in Etruscan inscriptions. The city was once sacked by Attila, and later given by the barbarian king Odoacer to his fellows. Under the Frankish rule, Parma became the capital of a county (774). Like most northern Italian cities, it was nominally a part of the Holy Roman Empire created by Charlemagne, but locally ruled by its bishops, first being Guidobus. Between the 14th and the 15th Centuries, Parma was at the centre of the Italian Wars. During World War II, Parma was a strong centre of partisan resistance. The Battle of Fornovo was fought in Parma's territory. During the Napoleonic Wars (1802-1814), Parma was part of the Taro Département. Trade unions were strong in the city, in which a famous General Strike was declared from May 1 to June 6, 1908. The struggle with Fascism lived its most dramatic moment in the August 1922, when the regime officer Italo Balbo attempted to enter in the popular quarter of Oltretorrente. The citizens organized into the Arditi del Popolo ("People's assaulters") and pushed back the squadristi. This episode is considered the first example of Resistance in Italy. The city of Parma was liberated of the German occupation (1943-1945) on April 26, 1945 by the partisan resistance and troops of Brazilian Expeditionary Force. The Romanesque Cathedral of Parma houses both 12th century sculpture by Benedetto Antelami and a 16th century fresco masterpiece by Antonio da Correggio. |
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