Salsomaggiore Terme

Salsomaggiore Terme is a town and comune in northern Italy. It is located in the province of Parma, in the Emilia-Romagna region, located at the foot of the Apennines. It is a popular Spa town. The water is strongly saline.

Due to its sodium content, the mineral water of Salsomaggiore belongs to the group of salty waters, a bromo-iodine-salt variety. A hypertonic and cold water extracted from artesian wells, 800 to 1200 m deep, at a temperature of 16 C and at a density of 16° on the Baumé scale (1 degree Baumé is equivalent to approximately 11 g salt per litre).

The main focus of the town lies in its baths, notably in the "terme" situated in the centre of the town. Since 2007 Salsomaggiore is home of a European Festival called Incontrarsi a Salsomaggiore, a celebration of art, music and theater dedicated to women and their health.

Notable attractions of this town are the central piazza with its clothing shops, the main centre of the town with a gelateria that is renowned throughout the area and the countryside surrounding this valley town.

The two villages nearby, Salsominore and Tabiano, have also their own baths.

History
During the reign of Marie Louise as Duchess of Parma that Salsomaggiore started to be recognized as a spa attraction for therapeutic purposes. Salsomaggiore then became one of the most famous and celebrated watering places in Europe.

Notable people
Lorenzo Berzieri, a doctor from Salsomaggiore, was the first person to successfully determine through experiment the therapeutic qualities of the bromo-iodine salt water, which was known and used in pre-Roman times for the extraction of salt.

Cristian Grossi, a contemporary artist, designer and fashion illustrator, famous for being the greatest exponent of New Art Nouveaux, introducing electronic art in retro Liberty style.

Frazioni
Bargone, Cangelasio, Ceriati, Contignaco-Cella, Costa, Costamarenga, Fornacchia, Gorzano, I Passeri, Longone-Colombaia, Montauro, Pie' di Via, Pieve di Cusignano, Rossi, Salsominore, San Vittore, Scipione Castello, Scipione Ponte, Tabiano Bagni, Tabiano Castello, Tosini, Vascelli.

Twin cities

 * 🇫🇷 Luxeuil-les-Bains, France
 * 🇹🇳 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
 * {{} Yalta, Ukraine, Crimea

External links and references

 * Salsomaggiore's official tourism website
 * Salsomaggiore's official Cultural Festival