Salsomaggiore Terme

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Comune di Salsomaggiore Terme
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Emilia-Romagna
Province	Parma (PR)
Mayor	Giuseppe Franchi (since June 28, 2004)

Elevation	157 m
Area	81 km²
Population
- Total	17,875
- Density	221/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	44°49′N 09°59′E
Gentilic	Salsési
Dialing code	0524
Postal code	43039
Frazioni	See list
Patron	San Vitale
- Day	April 28
Website: www.comune.forlimpopoli.fc.it

Salsomaggiore Terme is a town in northern Italy. It is located in the province of Parma, in the Emilia-Romagna region.

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 1,200 metres 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 grams of salt per litre). Due to the therapeutic properties of the water, people come from far and wide to rid themselves of bronchial and gastric problems.

Salsomaggiore is also the place where every year in September the beauty contest "Miss Italia" takes place.

The Terme

Salsomaggiore Terme, is a village of Emilia Romagna, Italy, in the province of Parma, 6 m. S.W. of Borgo San Donnino by steam tramway. Pop. (1901) 1387 (village); 7274 (commune). It is situated 525 ft. above sea-level at the foot of the Apennines, and is a popular watering-place, the baths being especially frequented. The water is strongly saline. The main focus of the town lies in its baths, notably in the "terme" situated in the centre of the town (Pictured). The main attraction is of course the terme, but once a year the finals of "Miss Italia" are held there, and the normally quiet streets ae lined with sports cars.

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.

In the surrounding countryside there are many small villages or "frazione" including Cangelasio's Ceriati, Costa and Alto. In Cangelasio Alto there is "La Trattoria al Cacciatore" which has views strething to the dolomites.

There are two smaller towns situated nearby, Salsominore and Tabiano, both with their own versions of Salsomaggiore's Terme.

1 History
2 Notable people
3 Fractions
4 Twin cities
5 External links and references

[edit] History

It was during the Duchy of Marie Louise of Austria that Salsomaggiore started to change and people understood the importance of the natural treasure of the town, useful for therapeutic purposes. Salsomaggiore then became one of the most famous and celebrated watering places in Europe.

[edit] Notable people

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

[edit] Fractions

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