Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFPCongratulations, Parma: the northern city has been named Italy's Capital of Culture for 2020. A jury "unanimously" picked Parma over nine other Italian cities, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini announced on Friday, beating Agrigento, Bitonto, Casale Monferrato, Macerata, Merano, Nuoro, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia and Treviso. Parma takes over the title from Italy's 2018 Capital of Culture, Palermo, and the 2019 European Capital of Culture, Matera. Here are just five of the reasons why Parma deserved it this time round. It has opera in its soulA statue of Giuseppe Verdi in Busseto, the comune near Parma where the composer lived.

Source: The Local February 16, 2018 15:11 UTC