Parma is often overshadowed by its bigger neighbor Bologna, but this relatively small Italian town has a whole lot to offer when it comes to art, music, history, and—of course—cheese. Located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, Parma was once the capital of a powerful duchy, which filled the city with many priceless treasures. Here, we got an intimate look at one of only three Renaissance theaters still in existence as well as one of the most stunning church frescoes in all of Italy.

We also took a bike ride through the countryside to go on a tour through a Parmigiano-Reggiano factory to get a behind the scenes look (and taste!) of the world-famous cheese. We enjoyed the local prosciutto and discovered our new favorite sparkling wine, Lambrusco. And that’s not it! There are also Roman ruins, an unfinished da Vinci painting at the National Gallery, and … puppets (lots of ‘em)!