by /// January 9 The imposing palace – symbol of the Ducal power of the Farnese Family – houses the precious masterpieces of the National Gallery of Parma the ancient artifacts of the National Archaeological Museum the historic volumes of the Palatine Library and the Farnese Theater a spectacular setting that still preserves the memory of the sumptuous court life of the Farnese Dukes Info it is the temple of music that intimidates also the great artists and inaugurated after only 8 years of construction work Info In other words, the first examples of modern (typographical) characters – the Bodonis – created by the typographer born in the Piemonte region but citizen of Parma of adoption, to whom the ducal city also dedicated a museum Info Example of Cistercian culture, built by the Benedictines, it inspired Stendhal for his novel The Charterhouse of Parma and today hosts the CSAC – Study Center and Communication Archive Info A work on which art historians agree in defining a unicum in the Master’s production. After the loan to the Louvre for the exhibition that celebrates the 500th anniversary of the death of the genius born in Vinci (Tuscany), it will return to be admired in the Pinacoteca from March, completing the itinerary #inEmiliaRomagna on the traces of Leonardo Info For 900 years the Cathedral has been a place of art history and sacredness with evidence of Romanesque art while the Baptistery is a symbol of the transition from the late Romanesque to the Gothic style Info The Colorno Palace is the Versailles of the Dukes of Parma, where you can be amazed discovering the palace or lose yourself in the romantic historic garden; it is now also home to ALMA – International School of Italian Cuisine Info There is an unbreakable link between the Busseto swan and its land, where it can be discovered and appreciated The king of cold cuts, one of the 44 PDO and PGI regional products preserves wisdom and craftsmanship refined over time with care and passion Info In the beginning one of the oldest hospitals in Italy, it is a precious place of the city now transformed into a cultural gallery: another reason to visit the Oltretorrente district Info To discover the king of cheeses you just have to get up early and take part to a ritual which is repeated in Emilia’s dairies every day for nine centuries Info fortresses and palaces for a journey through time from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance from the Baroque to the Age of Enlightenment from the romantic 19th century to the Belle Epoque Info A man with a strong character and closely linked to his territory who starting from his small world in the Bassa given that he is one of the most sold Italian authors and by far the most translated (in 142 languages) Another precious ducal corner of the city, with a Park “inhabited” by centuries-old trees that protect the Ducal Palace, which can be visited during extraordinary openings Info To learn more about the famous orchestra conductor who, from Parma, has become famous all over the world, you just have to go to Oltretorrente district and visit the Master’s House and Museum Info To enjoy this royal cold cut – not surprisingly appreciated also by Prince Charles of Wales – just go along the Po river thanks to the cold-humid winters and hot summers Info A Park with a wild heart that is also a MAB Reserve between the Tuscan sea and the Emilia plain to be discovered in all seasons with boots Info Social Media Manager for @inEmiliaRomagna and full-time mom by /// February 8 by /// February 14 by /// October 17 an email (in Italian) with selected contents and upcoming events by /// May 4 by /// August 17 For information, contact us: inemiliaromagna@aptservizi.com Prosciutto di Parma is not just slivers of salty goodness -- It is a delicacy steeped in tradition and technique The fame of Parma ham goes all the way back to Roman times and the secrets of curing as well as the mastery of the butcher craft have been fine-tuned and passed down for centuries The museum will take you on a journey through the gastronomic history of its ham and the special micro-climate enjoyed by the region that insures its salt content and it's sweetness You will also learn about the Consortium of safeguard that guarantees its quality After learning more about this fine food than you ever thought you'd need to know you will finally be rewarded with what you came for -- Prosciutto tasting Info and reservations info@museidelcibo.it A small museum dedicated to the whimsical tool that turns sugar cookies into works of art The nearly 120-year-old piece of pork wears a brass collar and was once a man's "pet ham." One woman's decades-long obsession with the "La Fée Verte." This sprawling collection hides many charms More than 5,000 contemporary and "historic" mustards from around the world where Brazil's coffee brokers once bought and sold beans the Monumental Complex of the Pilotta in Parma an autonomous institute of the Ministry of Culture will be enriched with three new sites: theAncient Spice Shop of St the Torrechiara Castle in Langhirano (Parma) and the Archaeological Park and Antiquarium of Veleia in Lugagnano Val D’Arda (Piacenza) The three sites thus pass to the Pilotta from the Emilia-Romagna Regional Museums Directorate it will be possible to visit all the Complex sites with a single ticket at the price of 25 euros This ticket includes a visit to the Pilotta on the day of purchase or reservation while the other venues can be visited within thirty days.“Following the inauguration of the New Pilotta,” says Stefano L’Occaso Director of the Complesso Monumentale della Pilotta “which saw the completion last November of the project led by former director Simone Verde we are very proud to announce this further enrichment that sees the inclusion of three new museum venues: the Ancient Spice Shop of St the Torrechiara Castle and the Parco Archeologico Antiquarium di Veleia This expansion represents an important opportunity to enhance and promote our cultural heritage while also reuniting Veleia with the Archaeological Museum which was created in the 18th century thanks precisely to excavations conducted in the archaeological area Our commitment is to continue to preserve and share the history and beauty of these extraordinary places.” The earliest evidence of the existence of an apothecary ’s shop in the abbey complex of San Giovanni Evangelista in Parma dates back to 1201 as the monastery was established in 980 AD it is likely that the Spezieria served only the Benedictines becoming accessible to the public at a later date The current arrangement of the furnishings dates from the late 16th and early 17th centuries while the layout of the premises underwent a significant transformation in 1766 the Benedictines had to secularize the pharmacy to avoid the permanent closure imposed by Bourbon minister William Du Tillot stills and other objects from various institutions and private donations Of the original eight rooms of the Spezieria These spaces are named after the specifics of their contents or their decorative elements in a hilly area of the Apennines that has been cultivated with vineyards for centuries Torrechiara Castle stands in a strategic position on a hill overlooking the valley below This castle is one of the most remarkable examples of fortified architecture not only in Emilia-Romagna Built between 1448 and 1460 as a residence and defensive tool by Pier Maria Rossi the castle shows the influence of the Sforza-Viscount castles It is built on a walled platform set at the top of a terraced hill and includes the manor house four corner towers and numerous underground rooms which can now be visited after restoration work was completed in 2006 The interior of the castle is rich in frescoed rooms with decorations of naturalistic Victory and Velario are attributed to Cesare Baglione with references to Correggio’s dome in Parma Cathedral is the work of an anonymous Parma artist from the early decades of the 17th century On the upper floor is the great hall of the Acrobats with frescoes also by Baglione and Giovan Antonio Paganino from the last decades of the 16th century The most famous room is the Camera d’Oro (northeast tower) a nuptial chamber whose name comes from the pure gold leaves that once covered the tiles on the walls These panels were frescoed between 1460 and 1462 by Benedetto Bembo(1420/25-1493?) according to recent attributional hypotheses with scenes depicting the ritual of chivalric love oversaw a new layout with the philological relocation of the surviving furnishings including the bed with riser and nuptial blanket The tour route has been varied and begins here as an introductory antecedent to the 15th- and 16th-century rooms and the Camera d’Oro offering a testament to Parma’s cultural climate in the early 20th century The municipium of Veleia was founded after the Roman conquest in the 2nd century BC in the heart of the territory of the Ligurian Veleates tribe on the site of a pre-existing indigenous center The city developed on a system of sloping terraces with the forum built on an artificial shelf obtained by massive earthworks Paved in the time of Augustus by Lucius Licinius Priscus the forum was surrounded on three sides by a portico that housed stores and public rooms An imposing entrance provided access from the lower terrace while on the opposite side the complex was enclosed by the basilica where the twelve large Luni marble statues depicting members of the Julio-Claudian family now on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Parma Upstream from the forum are the remains of living quarters and a bath building Veleia has been part of the region’s cultural heritage since 1760 when the Duke of Parma Don Filippo di Borbone initiated its exploration following the chance discovery in 1747 of the bronze inscription of Trajan’s Tabula Alimentaria This exceptional document stimulated further investigation making Veleia one of the most important archaeological centers in northern Italy The recently refurbishedAntiquarium houses exhibits illustrating the most significant moments in Veleia’s history offering visitors a rich experience of discoveries about the ancient events of this Roman city Ticket price: 5€ (from June 25 with entrance quotas according to arrangements to be defined later) Here’s a guide to cancer-causing agents to help you avoid them sausages – were classified as group 1 carcinogens along with tobacco arsenic and asbestos – because there is a causal link between eating these meats and bowel cancer apart from being dead there’s very little you can do to avoid carcinogens all together Modern life is packed with things that could reportedly cause cancer: alcohol plastic tubs in the microwave and close contact with other humans – which increases the risk of contracting certain potentially cancer-causing viruses But even if you did knock back a chosen group 1 carcinogen all day there’s no guarantee that you’ll definitely get cancer either is there any point in actively trying to avoid them It’s important to understand that not all carcinogens are the same Eating one bacon sandwich is not equal to smoking one cigarette Will ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband still eat bacon sandwiches now processed and cured meat has been classified as a grade 1 carcinogen Photograph: Ben Cawthra/RexCarcinogens do not cause cancer in every case Substances labelled as carcinogens may have different levels of cancer-causing potential Some may cause cancer only after prolonged And the risk of developing cancer depends on many factors including how you are exposed to the carcinogen Comparing every cancer-causing substance like for like is dangerous and deeply confusing to anyone trying to work out how to lead a healthy life lie naked in direct sunlight without sun protection for 10 years or actively become overweight and don’t exercise for 30 years it’s safe to say that you could be putting yourself at unnecessary risk But even then there’s still no guarantee you’ll die from cancer Cancer is caused by changes in a cell’s DNA others may be caused by environmental factors – these are known as carcinogens Some carcinogens do not affect DNA directly causing cells to divide at a faster than normal rate which could increase the chance of altering DNA It’s estimated that more than 4 in 10 cancer cases in the UK can be prevented by lifestyle changes The point of cutting out carcinogens is to lower your risk of getting cancer But regardless of how carefully you try to limit your exposure to carcinogens You might inherit damaged DNA from your parents – such as the BRCA genes that are linked with breast ovarian and prostate cancers – which give you a higher risk of developing cancer Smoking is pretty much now universally accepted as a bad thing. Photograph: AlamyThere are lists and lists of cancer-causing agents But few of them appear to apply to an average person’s every day life: “avoid auramine and be aware of the risks involved in making polychlorinated biphenyls” Here’s a guide to some of the most obvious cancer-causing agents you’re likely to come across in your day-to-day life so you can choose whether to avoid them or not as does Macauley Culkin; smoking just isn’t cool At the risk of sounding like a public service announcement Chemicals in cigarette smoke – specifically benzene benzopyrene and nitrosamines – cause cancer by directly damaging our DNA including the genes that help protect us from cancer The chemicals in cigarettes enter our blood stream which then get pumped around our bodies by our ever helpful hearts This is why smoking also increases the risk of at least 13 other cancers including cancers of the larynx nose and sinuses and some types of leukaemia is the biggest preventable cause of cancer in the world It accounts for more than one in four cancer deaths which has the lowest survival rate of any cancer The WHO predicts that if smoking rates continue tobacco will be responsible for for 1 billion deaths in the 21st century The only positive thing to say here is that it doesn’t matter if you binge drink or drink regularly in small quantities the cancer-causing chemical acetaldehyde is formed And no type of alcohol is better or worse than another Whether it’s premium vodka or a no-frills supermarket own it is the alcohol itself that is the problem Acetaldehyde causes cancer by making our liver cells grow faster than normal These regenerating liver cells are then more likely to pick up changes in their genes that could then lead to cancer Alcohol can also affect the level of oestrogen in our bodies and high levels of this hormone can increase the risk of breast cancer Wipe that smile off your face young man – don’t you realise how bad drinking is for you Photograph: Cultura RM/AlamyNot everyone who drinks alcohol will develop cancer But research has found that some cancers – mouth breast and bowel – are more common in people who drink more alcohol than others As of this week, processed and cured meat is officially a group 1 carcinogen But the way meat is cooked can also expose us to cancer-causing chemicals specifically heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) These chemicals are formed when meat is cooked using high-temperature methods such as frying or grilling over an open flame Meats cooked at high temperatures or for a long time tend to form more HCAs HCAs and PAHs damage DNA after they are metabolised by enzymes in the body Population studies have not established a definitive link between HCA and PAH exposure from cooked meats and cancer in humans But some epidemiologic studies found that high consumption of well-done or barbecued meats was associated with increased risks of colorectal There are no clear answers to why being overweight causes cancer but it’s mainly to do with the idea that fat tissue produces hormones and proteins that make other cells behave differently And this could cause cancerous cells to grow Excess body fat is not only generally unhealthy but could be cancer-causing Photograph: AlamyFat tissue produces hormones such as insulin or oestrogen These are then released into our bloodstream and carried around the body Excess fat tissue changes the levels of sex hormones And high insulin levels are a common feature of many cancers Large amounts of belly fat can do even more damage and this indicator is linked to bowel but it could be to do with how quickly the chemicals from the fat can get into the blood Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a very common infection which usually causes no symptoms Up to 8 out of 10 people will be infected with the virus at some point in their lives The virus infects the skin and the cells lining body cavities through close skin-to-skin contact HPV causes skin cells to divide more than usual New virus particles are then made inside these cells Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV penis and anus cancers as well as some types of cancer in the mouth and throat Girls aged 12-13 are now given a vaccination against the two most common ‘high-risk’ types of HPV Using a condom can help prevent the transmission of HPV that lovely yellow ball that you so loved drawing with crayon as a child can give you cancer Though it seems unfair Photograph: Danny Lawson/PAUVA and UVB from the sun and sunbeds but the mixture of the two is different to natural sunlight and is often much stronger it can cause cells to start growing out of control Sunburn is a sign that you’ve damaged the DNA in your skin cells If your skin has gone pink or red in the sun Your skin does not have to be hanging off and bleeding to indicate dangerous levels of damage can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer.