Salsomaggiore Terme, City of the Natural wellness and of the most beautiful Spas in Europe, owes its prestige also to the salt trade prospered in ancient times. Along this path you'll discover the remaining evidences of this flourishing industry. Start: viale del Lavoro, in front of Luigi Zoja Thermal Spa. Run alongside the Berzieri Spa Palace and go up via Cavour and then via Franchina Ceriati until reach the road of the coast. Go downhill towards Salsominore, surrounded by the rich hill vegetation, and you'll arrive in the small village which houses one of the Ancient Salt Mine remains so called "Porches of the Salt". There you can see the bell tower of the Cristo Salvatore Church. Go ahead for a few tens of meters and on the left you'll reach a dirt track that lead you to a part of the track off tarmac. Arrived at the Village of Scipione Castle you can see the ancient fortress of the Pallavicino Marquis and from its tower is possible to see the skyline of Parma, Piacenza and Cremona. The dirt track continues downhill near the Osteria del Castello restaurant and passing Case Boselli on the provincial road, then entries in the Regional Fluvial Stiorne Park where you can stop and relax surrounded by the lush vegetation of poplar trees, oaks, elm trees, cherry trees, blackthorn and howthorn. After the break continue on to the single track running along che Stirone River through the riparian forest where you can see the fossils remains dated back to the Miocene period (8 million of years ago). At the end of the track you'll arrive at the “Tre Pioppi” area; proceed towards the SP 109 and go uphill passing the Holiday Farm La Broncarda and then the educational farm Colle Rio Stirpi. Reach Cangelasio at the Santa Maria Assunta Church and go ahead on asphalt for a short track, then take again the trail to skirt the main road. Come out under the Pianazzo Mount where the last challenging climb of this path used by the salt trade in ancient times awaits you. The itinerary leads you to the Marzano Coast where you'll see the Madonna della Neve church, now renewed and accessible: during less than 100 years the tower bell was hit by lightning for 3 times! The downhill road to return to Salsomaggiore is the last part of the path. In Salsomaggiore you can visit some historic places of the city: the magnificent Berzieri Spa Palace in liberty style and the Scotti Well drilled in the late 19th century for extracting the thermal water; the city center is the ideal place to relax and taste a good artisanal ice-cream.

Elevation profile

Crossed locations

• 1  Salsomaggiore
   - Start 0,0 km
• 2  Salsominore
   2,4 km
• 3  Scipione
   4,5 km
• 4  Cangelasio
   12,2 km
• 5  Faieto
   17,1 km
• 6  Monte Pianazzo
   19,1 km
• 7  Marzano
   21,4 km
• 8  Salsomaggiore
   - Arrivo 24,4 km

Itinerary highlights

Terra de Salsis - The "Farnesiane" Salt Mines in Salsominore

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Ancient structure for salt production.

Terra de Salsis – The Pumping Station in Salsominore

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The territory of Salsa is furrowed by a network of underground bromide-iodine water layers that flows at depths of between 300 and 1200 meters.

Castle of Scipione

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The Castle of Scipione of the Pallavicino Marquees is the most ancient castle of the region and the only one still inhabitated by the descendants of the Pallavicino family.

Stirone and Piacenzano Park

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Apart from being an area of great naturalistic interest the park has a particular paleontological importance.

Liberty Building - Lorenzo Berzieri Thermal Spa

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The Berzieri Palace is one of the most complex and fascinating building of the thermal city, landmark of the European thermalism and unique example of thermal Art Decò style. The liberty palace is counted in the Emilia Romagna Cultural Heritage.

Scotti Well Cage

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The elegant Liberty Cage by Alessandro Mazzucottelli, wrought iron master.