Situated in the centre of a magnificent park in Salsomaggiore Terme (Parma), the luxurious Grand Hotel des Thèrmes, now known as the Palazzo dei Congressi, is a splendid liberty-art deco building which emanates the charm of the Belle Epoque.
The building was designed in 1898, commissioned by Società Magnaghi from the Milanese architect Luigi Broggi. Inaugurated in 1901, the hotel was entrusted to the management of Cesare Ritz, who bought it in 1910 with Baron Pfyffer.
The building is on a horseshoe layout, originally 300 rooms were spread across four floors while the façade has striped decorations above open brickwork. The wrought iron railings and entrance awning were created by Alessandro Mazzucotelli, while the pictorial decoration inside and out was first entrusted to Gottardo Valentini.
The hotel was ceded to Società Anonima Grandi Alberghi Salsomaggiore after WWI, who added a new building alongside, facing the park, where the salone moresco (Moorish room), taverna rossa (red tavern) and the loggiaby Ugo Giusti and Galileo Chini would be situated. Chini was also responsible for the interior decorations, inspired by Moorish style, and the Japanese style of the ceiling in the sala delle cariatidi (caryatid room). Antonio Veronesi worked on the cupola of the salone moresco, whose glass came from the Chini furnaces in Borgo San Lorenzo; the sculptor Salvatore Aloisi created the models for the plasterwork and sculptures and Franco Spicciani di Lucca was responsible for the red lacquer of the tables and chairs in the taverna.
Following WWII, the hotel passed to count Leoni and in 1965 was bought by the Municipality of Salsomaggiore Terme who assigned it for use as a congress centre.
Emilia-Romagna Film Commission
Viale Aldo Moro 38 — 40127 Bologna
Phone: +39 051 5278753
Email: filmcom@regione.emilia-romagna.it
