Private Half Day Tour to Parma the City of Perfume

5.0
(8 reviews)

3 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English and 1 more

Parma the City of Perfume is an exclusive opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of the city and discover, through an olfactory journey, the tradition of perfume and the protagonists of its supply chain in Parma from 1816 till today.
The greenhouses of the Ducal Park introduce us to the discovery of the famous Violetta di Parma. Numerous traces of Maria Luigia of Austria’s predilection for the violet can be found inside the Glauco Lombardi Museum. The visit to Violetta di Parma 1930 shop allows us to retrace the life of Ludovico Borsari and the birth of the perfume that later became a symbol of the city and the Duchess. We will visit an Acqua di Parma store to get to know the brand from its origins to new variations and discover the history of the companies of the Parma perfume supply chain, which arose many years ago in small laboratories, to grow to the point to have become some of the major references worldwide for perfumery packaging, bottles, caps and labels.

What's Included

Professional local guide
Entrance to an Acqua di Parma store
Entrance to one of the historic perfumeries in the city center
Entrance to Glauco Lomabardi Museum or San Filippo Neri Antique Pharmacy and Oratory of San Tiburzio
Eventual purchase of products at the shops and perfumeries

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Entrance to the Ducal Park, located at the intersection of Ponte Verdi - Via dei Farnese - Strada delle Fonderie

End point

Itinerary

Duration: 3 hours (approximately)
  • (Pass by)

    The greenhouses of the Ducal Park introduce to the discovery of the botanical characteristics of the famous “Violetta di Parma”, already present within the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza in the second half of the Eighteenth Century.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    We will visit the exterior of the Palazzo della Pilotta, built in the early Seventeenth Century by the Farnese as an imposing container for the court's services. We will retrace the dynastic passages that followed the extinction of the Farnese dynasty.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    We will visit the exterior of the Palazzo di Riserva, inside which the Glauco Lombardi Museum is located, to retrace the great success of the violet flower under the First and Second Empire and Maria Luigia of Austria’s predilection for the small flower, widely testified by the collections of the Glauco Lombardi Museum.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    We will take a look at the exterior of the Teatro Regio, one of the most important Opera Houses in the world, where internationally renowned artists, such as Paganini, Verdi, Toscanini, Callas and Beniamino Gigli, have played, sung and worked.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    We will cross Piazza Duomo and we will admire the Cathedral from the outside.

    Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    We will observe the magnificent Baptistery of Parma from the outside.

    Admission ticket free
  • 1

    The visit to Violetta di Parma 1930 shop will allow us to retrace the life of Ludovico Borsari, to learn about the famous products made by the Borsari Company during the first half of the Twentieth Century and contemporary local glass industry represented by the Bormioli Company.

    30 minutes Admission ticket free
  • (Pass by)

    We will walk through Garibaldi Square, overlooked by beautiful buildings such as the Captain’s Palace, the Town Hall and the Governor’s Palace, and also shops, restaurants and cafes which have earned the town the title of “UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy”.

    Admission ticket free
  • 2

    We will visit an Acqua di Parma store, to get to know the brand from its origins to new variations and the history of the companies of the Parma perfume supply chain, which arose many years ago, by intuition of the founders, in small laboratories, to grow to the point to have become some of the major references worldwide for perfumery packaging, bottles, caps and labels.

    40 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3

    We will visit San Filippo Neri Antique Pharmacy and Oratory of San Tiburzio, a fascinating place hidden in the heart of the historic center, guardian of the cosmetic and pharmaceutical heritage of the city. A galenic laboratory that has preserved untouched its structure dating back to 1789, the perfect place to discover, touch and smell the raw materials once used by apothecaries and perfumers and flip through the ancient recipe books based on natural ingredients, a legacy of ancient knowledge.

    50 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Supplied by ARTEMILIA Guided Tours

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Tags

Half-day Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Shopping Tours
Walking Tours
City Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

5.0 Based on 8 8 reviews
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