In the heart of Parma, one of the most illustrious capitals of Italian gastronomy, Academia Barilla was founded in 2004. The world's first international center dedicated to promoting Italian cuisine,protecting the legacy of regional gastronomy, and safeguarding against imitations and counterfeits, Academia Barilla is also a highly professional training center. It organizes cooking classes for cooking enthusiasts, provides resources for the food service industries, and offers products of the highest quality. In 2007, Academia Barilla recieved the "Premio Impresa Cultura" award, which honored its campaigns to promote the culture and creativity of Italian gastronomy throughout the world. The Center was designed to meet the needs and training requirements of the food world, and is equipped with all the multimedia services necessary for organizing major events: an auditorium with a viewing kitchen, a sensory analysis laboratory, and several classrooms equipped with the latest technology. The gastronomic library contains over 10,00 volumes and an impressive collection of historical menus, as well as art prints with culinary themes. The library's vast cultural heritage can be consulted on the internet, and offers access to hundreds of digitally archived historial texts. With its cutting-edge approach and its team of internationall rrenowned experts, Academia Barilla offers a vast range of courses that meet the needs of both restaurant chefs and amateur food lovers. In 2011, a rich offering of Food Tours was initiated, aimed at discovering the regions, products, and typical recipes of Italy. Further, under the supervision of experts, chefs, and food critics, Academia Barilla organizes cultural events and activities on the art of cooking, which are open to the public. Colour illustrations
