Piacenza
A Po river city in Emilia-Romagna known for its Gothic and Farnese-era palaces, cured pork and train links on the Milan to Bologna line.
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Piacenza is a city on the right bank of the Po in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, and the capital of its province. It is the region's westernmost major city, and its Lombard influence is stronger than its Emilian character. The historic centre is compact and walkable, inside the old Farnese walls. Piazza dei Cavalli, the main square, takes its name from two bronze statues of Farnese dukes.
Food is a big reason to go. The city is known for cured pork, such as pancetta, coppa and salame, and for pisarei e faśö, handmade pasta with borlotti beans. Palazzo Farnese houses the civic museums and the Liver of Piacenza, an Etruscan bronze model used for divination. The city sits on the Milan to Bologna rail and motorway corridor, so it works well as a day trip. Summers are hot and humid and winters are often foggy.
Piacenza in five
- Start in Piazza dei CavalliThe square is named for two equestrian statues in front of the Gothic Palazzo Comunale. It is the center of the old town, and the cathedral and main streets are a few minutes away on foot.
- Try local cured meats and pastaCoppa, pancetta and salame Piacentino are DOP products, and pisarei e fasò is a local dish of small dumplings with beans. Ask for a mixed plate and a glass of local wine.
- Check the Ricci Oddi gallery hoursThe modern art gallery holds Italian paintings from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Check opening days and tickets on its official site, since small museums vary.
- Come by fast train from Milan or ParmaPiacenza is on the Milan–Bologna line, so it works as a day trip from either. Fast trains take about 30–60 minutes, and regional trains take longer.Italy by train off-peak
Need to know
- Airport
- Milan Linate or Malpensa, about 1–2 hours by train
- Getting there
- Train from Milan in about 30–60 min; from Parma about 30–45 min
- Getting around
- On foot; the center is compact
- Best base
- Near Piazza dei Cavalli
- Time needed
- A day
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh8°Low1°Cold, foggyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, foggy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°ColdFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°MildMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Spring, idealAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, ideal
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, greenMayRain
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Hot eveningsJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot evenings
- JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low19°Hot, quietJulyPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, quiet
- AugustClear10 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low19°Hot, quietAugustClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, quiet
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Mild, clearSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Autumn, harvestOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 111 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn, harvest
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Foggy, dampNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Foggy, damp
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°Cold, festiveDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, festive
Average daily high and low in Piacenza, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Piacenza
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 65%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Piacenza
11:01 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today15°3°0%Monday: Fog. High 15°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue14°4°8%Tuesday: Fog. High 14°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed15°7°9%Wednesday: Fog. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Thu14°8°9%Thursday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Fri11°5°45%Friday: Rain. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Sat12°7°41%Saturday: Fog. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Sun13°7°30%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 30%.
Updated 10:33 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- SepFestivaletteraturaMantua, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Parmaabout 30–45 min by trainCheese, ham and a pink-marble baptistery.Read the guide
- Cremonaabout 1 hour by trainA violin-making city with a cathedral and a famous tower.Read the guide
- Castell'Arquatoabout 40 min by carA hill village with a fortress and a small piazza.
Before you go to Piacenza
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Rules for Piacenza, checked
- Many nationalities enter Italy without a visa. Check the entry rules for your passport on esteri.it before you book.Source
- Check the customs rules on carrying cash into or out of the EU before you travel, and declare any amount above the limit.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy. It is the EU-wide emergency number.
- Many Italian historic centres are ZTL traffic zones watched by cameras. Check the Comune di Piacenza website before you drive into the centre.
- A coperto (cover charge) often appears on restaurant bills, so check the bill before you tip.
Plan around Piacenza
Regions, cities and how to link them
Read the guideParmaThe next stop east on the Via Emilia
Read the guideCremonaA rail hop to the violin city
Read the guideMilanThe city to the north-west
Read the guidePaviaAnother quiet Po-valley stop
Read the guideEES border checks explainedIf you arrive in Milan from outside Europe
Read the guidePiacenza FAQ
Is Piacenza worth visiting?
Yes for a quiet day with good food and a handsome center. It is not a headline destination, so it suits travelers who want fewer crowds and a local pace.
How many days do you need in Piacenza?
One day covers the main square, the cathedral and a long lunch. A second day lets you add Castell'Arquato or the wine villages, which need a car or a tour.
How far is Piacenza from Milan?
About 30–60 minutes by train, depending on the service. Fast trains are quicker, and regional trains stop more often. Check the timetable for your return.
What should you eat in Piacenza?
Coppa, pancetta and salame Piacentino, pisarei e fasò and a glass of local wine. Ask for a mixed plate of cured meats.
Is Piacenza or Parma better?
Parma has more sights and a bigger food scene. Piacenza is smaller and calmer. If you have time, visit both on a line trip between Milan and Bologna.