Langhirano: Prosciutto, Art and History

Langhirano brings together themes that you can weigh differently when planning a stay: the Museo del Prosciutto di Parma explores production and cuisine, while Torrechiara, historic churches and art installations offer further cultural insights. Views of the landscape are also part of the town’s character. If you are looking for a hotel in Langhirano, this selection can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.

Prosciutto di Parma and regional cuisine

The tour of the Museo del Prosciutto di Parma takes you from the Parma area and pig breeds to salt, the production of Prosciutto di Parma and its use in cooking. The ham is therefore presented not just as a finished product: the tour also covers the ingredients and production behind its culinary use.

Free audio guides with explanations, details, anecdotes and curiosities are available through the Audiogiro platform. Check the latest visitor information before your visit. At the Ristorante al Museo, visitors can enjoy coffee, tastings or meals featuring typical products from Parma, along with a selection of wines from the Colli di Parma. If you plan to have a tasting or meal there, it is also worth checking the latest visitor information.

The Festival del Prosciutto programme includes stalls selling regional products along the main streets. There are also stalls run by cured-meat and ham producers, wineries and cheese makers. The festival’s format varies from one edition to the next, so check the programme for your visit.

Torrechiara, churches and history

Castello di Torrechiara is a fortified structure on a hill in a hilly area of the Comune di Langhirano. From there, you can look out over the Parma stream valley. The belvedere at Badia di Torrechiara also offers views of the landscape, including the Parma stream, the Canale Maggiore and the surrounding hills.

Fragments of late-15th-century frescoes have been preserved in the abbey. A Madonna and Child is attributed to the painter Francesco Tacconi. This distinction between surviving wall paintings and an artistic attribution also makes the visit interesting for guests with an interest in art history.

The Museo del Risorgimento Faustino Tanara preserves memorabilia, letters, photographs and documents. These relate to Faustino Tanara, the local Garibaldian Risorgimento movement, the Fratellanza Artigiana Langhiranese and the Società Femminile di Mutuo Soccorso con Cassa di Maternità in Langhirano. This brings local associations and movements into focus alongside an individual figure.

The Palazzo Municipale also offers a glimpse into Langhirano’s history: its original core was built during Bishop Grazia’s tenure (1224–1236) for the bishop’s captain. The dating of the Pieve di Arola reaches further back. Some authors date its construction to the 6th century and describe it as one of the oldest parish churches in the diocese. The remains of the ancient Pieve were recently conserved and restored.

Landscape, art and getting there

The churchyard of the Pieve di Cozzano sits at an elevation of 700 metres on the eastern slopes of Monte Pozzo, offering views of major Apennine peaks. The Sentiero d'Arte provides a different way to experience the surroundings: this route features contemporary art installations created specifically for the trail and to coexist with the surrounding nature. Views of the landscape and encounters with art are thus presented as distinct themes.

Bus route 12 runs in both directions between Parma railway station and Langhirano. Check the timetable before travelling. When planning your stay, you can weigh up its different themes: prosciutto and cuisine, historic architecture and collections, or landscape and art. These priorities offer a practical starting point for finding a hotel and planning your time in Langhirano.

Discover more destinations: Felegara, Case Vecchie, Varsi, Arola, Vignale, Valmozzola, Fornovo Di Taro, Torrile.

Back to the main travel overview: Parma.