Highlights
Highlights
Step inside the Terme Berzieri and let yourself be overwhelmed by the gilded mosaics, the polychrome ceramics and the frescoes by Chini: it is a journey into the Belle Epoque.
Then climb up to the Castle of Scipione of the Pallavicino Marquises (the oldest in the Parma area) and enjoy the panorama over the verdant hills.
Finally stroll through the Gavinell Botanical Garden among 450 species of medicinal plants: peace, beauty and natural well-being.
From Roman salt-works to the Belle Epoque of the spas
The salt waters of Salsomaggiore were known as far back as Roman times, when they were used to extract salt.
In 798 the emperor Charlemagne granted the citizens of Salso the privilege of extracting salt from the mineral waters, an activity that made the village prosperous for centuries.
The turning point came in 1839 when the doctor Lorenzo Berzieri discovered the therapeutic properties of the salty-bromine-iodine waters by curing a little girl of an inflammatory illness.
The Terme Berzieri and triumphant Liberty
The Terme Berzieri (1913-1923), designed by the architect Ugo Giusti and decorated by Galileo Chini, are the only example in Italy of Spa Art Nouveau.
The eclectic facade blends Oriental, Liberty and Deco styles; the interiors are a triumph of polychrome ceramics, gilded mosaics, stuccoes and frescoes representing nymphs, water deities and floral motifs.
The Castles of Salt and the excellences of the territory
On the surrounding hills rise the Castles of Salt: in the Middle Ages the powerful Pallavicino Marquises erected five fortresses (Scipione, Tabiano, Contignaco, Bargone, San Vitale) to protect the precious salt-works from enemy attacks.
Salt was "white gold" and was worth a fortune. Today these castles can be visited and offer spectacular panoramas.
The territory is rich in PDO products: Parmigiano-Reggiano from the hill dairies, Prosciutto di Parma, traditional cured meats and the famous sweet focaccia produced by historic pastry shops such as Tosi.
The Liberty pearl of Italian spa towns
Salsomaggiore Terme is the most important spa town in Emilia-Romagna, celebrated for its salt-bromine-iodine waters with their extraordinary curative properties and for the magnificent Liberty and Deco architecture that makes it an open-air museum of the early 20th century. The absolute symbol is the Berzieri Baths (1913-1923), a masterpiece by Ugo Giusti and Galileo Chini with orientalist decorations and Art Nouveau frescoes that take the breath away. Lorenzo Berzieri discovered in 1839 the therapeutic properties of these waters, exceptionally rich in mineral salts (15 times more concentrated than the sea), turning Salsomaggiore into the 'pearl of Italian spas'. Surrounded by gentle green hills, the town offers the medieval Salt Castles (Scipione, Tabiano, Contignaco, Bargone, San Vitale) that in the Middle Ages protected the precious salt pans, the magnificent Gavinell Botanical Garden with 450 botanical species and the Parco Mazzini with century-old sequoias. Each year it hosts festivals, concerts and the prestigious Miss Italia contest (a historic venue from 1946 to 2011).
Related experiences
From Carolingian salt to Berzieri's discovery
The salt waters of Salsomaggiore have been known since Roman times, when they were used to extract salt. In 798 the emperor Charlemagne granted the citizens of Salso the privilege of extracting salt from the mineral waters, an activity that made the town prosperous for centuries. The turning point came in 1839, when the doctor Lorenzo Berzieri discovered the therapeutic properties of the salt-bromine-iodine waters by curing a child of an inflammatory disease. From then on Salsomaggiore became a destination for elite spa tourism, drawing nobles, artists and personalities from all over Europe. The town adorned itself with luxury hotels, Liberty palaces and cutting-edge infrastructure.
The Berzieri Baths and the Liberty city
The Berzieri Baths (1913-1923), designed by the architect Ugo Giusti and decorated by Galileo Chini, are the only example in Italy of spa Art Nouveau. The eclectic facade blends oriental, Liberty and Deco styles; the interiors are a riot of polychrome ceramics, gilded mosaics, stuccoes and frescoes representing nymphs, water deities and floral motifs. Other Liberty jewels are the Palazzo dei Congressi (former Grand Hotel des Thermes, 1901), the Palazzina Warowland (1912) in a neo-medieval Lombard style, the Liberty railway station and numerous hotels and private buildings dotted along Viale Romagnosi and Viale Matteotti.
The Salt Castles and the local cuisine
On the surrounding hills rise the Salt Castles: in the Middle Ages the powerful Pallavicino marquises built five fortresses (Scipione, Tabiano, Contignaco, Bargone, San Vitale) to protect the precious salt pans from enemy attacks. Salt was 'white gold' and worth a fortune. Today these castles can be visited and offer spectacular views. The territory is rich in DOP products: Parmigiano-Reggiano from the hill dairies, Prosciutto di Parma, traditional cured meats and the famous sweet focaccia made by historic patisseries such as Tosi. Annual events such as markets, music festivals and food and wine fairs animate the city from April to October.