EC1499. PC1852 2-13-07. USA Collector. SALSAMAGGIORE, Italy. Spa Town in Emilia Romagna, Italia

Salsomaggiore Terme (pop. 14,800), is a spa town in the region of Emilia-Romagna. It lies 26 km west of Parma and 118 km southeastern of Milan, just off Autostrada del Sol, the highway connecting Rome and Milan.

The area around Salsomaggiore Terme is exceedingly rich in mineral waters which have turned the town into a world-famous spa. Salsomaggiore rises at the feet of the green hills of the Appennines to 160 meters above sea level, in a suggestive and picturesque geographical position far from the big industrial centers. A temperated climate in each season and the natural surrounding environment always makes pleasant the stay in Salsomaggiore.

One of the most important spa centres in Italy, Salsomaggiore Terme is a well-known holiday destination and centre for numerous cultural and social events such as meetings, conferences, beauty contests and various exhibitions. The town is situated on the foothills of the Parma Appenines in a fertile valley where the Citronia and Chiara Rivers meet. The beneficial properties of the thermal springs in Salsomaggiore – which date back to ancient times – were recognised in the 19th century and it was a certain Dr Berzieri (one of the centres is named after him) who certified the curative powers of the water containing chloride, bromide and sodium iodide that comes to the surface at a temperature of 16°C and has a very high saline density. A special feature of the Salsomaggiore Spa is Acqua Madre, which is a concentration of this water and very useful for inhalation treatments.