Foodies flock to the Parma area for its spectacular gourmet blockbusters like Parmigiano Reggiano cheese,  Prosciutto di Parma ham, Lambrusco wine, and more; while cyclists love the area because it’s relatively flat compared to much of the rest of Italy and easy to explore on two wheels. 

But there’s another great reason to visit the area: the incredible historic castles scattered through the countryside just outside of Parma. Here are five of my favorite castles near Parma...