That Salsomaggiore Terme is an outpost of health has not been a secret for at least a century.
However, only the locals and the habitué of the town are aware of more particular itineraries, such as the Giro della Lucciola, which already from the name, borrowed from that of a historic restaurant now closed, suggests a certain familiarity with the territory.
Must-sees along the way
Tip
The route is suitable for everyone, provided you wear appropriate sports clothing. The best seasons to explore the route are spring and autumn, when the leaves paint the landscape in warm colors.
Located in the heart of Salsomaggiore Terme, the building, symbol of the city, is the work of the Tuscan architects Ugo Giusti and Giulio Bernardini and was inaugurated on May 27, 1923.
The internationally renowned florentine painter and decorator Galileo Chini (1873-1956) took care of the apparatus decorations of this building, in which evident elements of Chinese oriental, Islamic and Hindu culture emerge, which Chini learned from his previous experiences in the oriental world.
Must-see
Inside(now part of a private spa center), a monumental marble staircase leads to the first floor, where you can admire a splendid diptych, the work of Chini himself and depicting autumn and spring, seasons traditionally chosen for thermal treatments. On the counter-façade, the "Triptych of Hygieia", painted by the artist Giuseppe Moroni (1888-1959), recalls the function of the building dedicated to the cult of water and health.
The Berzieri Thermal Baths overlook the square of the same name, recently renovated to a design by architect Emilio Faroldi. It is characterized by
Outside, sharpen your eyes and look for:
Once you reach the summit of Marzano, the view opens up onto the surrounding landscape and your gaze encounters Contignaco Castle
To know
The castle was built around the 11th century by Adalberto Pallavicino; it seems that the main tower, over 30 meters high and still well preserved today, dates to 1030. Initially a fief of the Pallavicino family, in 1315 it was conquered by the Aldighieri family of Parma to control some salt pans in the area. The Aldighieri of Parma (later called "di Contignaco") held it until 1537; subsequently the castle changed its owner several times and was also rebuilt several times.
Curiosity
The castle is surrounded by splendid specimens of oaks, cedars, cypresses and laurels. There is a majestic centuries-old oak, with a trunk over two meters in diameter, located at the entrance. Today the manor is home to a farm that produces wine.
Returning towards Salsomaggiore, the walk ends in front of the Postelegraphic Building, or Palazzo delle Poste of Salsomaggiore Terme, in Piazzale Giustizia, within a green area owned by the municipality on the top of a slight hill that favors the grandeur of the building.
To know
Designed in 1933 by architect Renzo Beretta and engineer Dino Torelli, the building is linear and sober in shape, in a modernized classic style, with a wide entrance staircase.
The elements that characterize the facade, concentrated in the structure of the central body, are three large openings with semicircular marble columns that support the cornice and confer celebratory grandeur. The main floor, very bright, houses the halls of the counters that welcome the public.
