Parma Italian Capital of Culture Through 2021

Italy’s Cultural Heritage Ministry (MiBACT) has announced that Parma will be the Italian Capital of Culture for 2020 and 2021.

2020 was supposed to be Parma’s year. As Italian Capital of Culture for 2020, Parma was set to get a tourism boost thanks to a country-wide focus on its cultural heritage. Of course, as we all know by now, 2020 did not cooperate.

Luckily, Parma will now have time to reconsider its cultural program as it gets an extension through 2021. Exhibitions, concerts, gastronomic activities and other events planned for Parma’s cultural year will resume as soon as they are given the green light to continue.

Cities that had originally applied to be the capital of culture for 2021 will be considered for 2022.

MiBACT made the announcement about Parma on 14 May during a press conference in which it was also announced that the Italian government would provide €5 billion in funding for tourism and culture.

The fund will include a holiday tax credit of up to €500 for Italian households to travel until the end of 2020; funding for protection for workers in the tourism sector; an emergency fund for tour operators and travel agencies; and tax credits for the hospitality industry, not including those that deal in short-term rentals via Airbnb and Booking.com.

Parma’s museums are to re-open on 18 May, along with many other museums in Italy. Here’s a video (made in 2019) that shows what Parma has to offer — in 2020, 2021, and beyond.

Photo via Città di Parma

Post first published on May 15, 2020