Salsomaggiore Terme - An Extraordinary Spa Town

Salsomaggiore Terme is a town and comune located in Emilia-Romagna at the foot of the Apennines and is a popular Spa town. It was during the reign of Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma and second wife of Napoleon, that Salsomaggiore began to gain recognition as a spa attraction for therapeutic purposes. It then became one of the most celebrated and famous spots for this in all of Europe. Situated in the heart of Northern Italy and surrounded by rolling green hills, Salsomaggiore Terme is only about an hour from Milan and Bologna. It makes the perfect getaway from the madness of modern urban living. Why not find a luxury villa in Emilia-Romagna and see for yourself?

At the centre of the city is the Berzieri Spa, built at the end of the nineteenth century in the Art-Deco style and now a symbol of the city for the waters that it is known for and its art and architecture.

Work began in 1913, following a design by Ugo Giusti and Giulio Bernardini with Galileo Chini’s decorations giving the grandiose building its distinctive Nouveau - Deco style. "Terme Berzieri" is dedicated to the famous Lorenzo Berzieri, the first doctor who systematically studied the therapeutic properties of the town's natural mineral waters. Not only is an architectural gem and a wonder to behold but it also offers a wide range of spa and therapeutic treatments to wipe away stress, beautify or merely enjoy.

The Berzieri spa is one of the many Nouveau-Deco buildings throughout the city which have an extraordinary impact on this unique town. The Pozzo Scotti, which faces the spa, is another fine example whose structure in glass and wrought iron showcases the salsobromoiodic water flowing inside. Other buildings in the style include the Palazzo dei Congressi (Conference Centre), the former Grand Hotel Des Thermes and the former Casino Kursaal.

If a tour of all those buildings fails to sate your appetite for the history of the town, you can further immerse yourself in the history of Salsomaggiore Terme by paying a visit to the Paleontological Museum, “Il Mare Antico”.

Located inside the Palazzo dei Congressi, this special museum allows the visitor to admire finds from the Quaternary era, preserved from a time when the city was submerged by the ocean.

While in the area, be sure to also discover the tastes as well as the sights. Try Liquore Osvaldo Colombo, a local liqueur that has been made by the same distillery since 1905 using traditional methods and the extra virign olive oil for which the area is famous. Visit dairies that produce the Parmigiano-Reggiano which we all know and love.

A holiday full of spa treatments, wandering through the city and sampling local flavours - what could be more ideal? Discover this wonderful town and everything else that Emilia-Romagna has to offer today.