A village in the Staffora Valley with Roman origins, in the Middle Ages Godiasco was the northern gateway of the Via del Sale, which connected the Po Valley to the Ligurian Sea through the fiefs of the Malaspina marquises. Since 2012 it has changed its name to Godiasco Salice Terme and is part of the famous spa town. It is a treasure trove of history, natural beauty and unique traditions. From ancient medieval villages to castles, from thousand year old churches to a renowned spa.
A plunge into history
The village, with its ancient medieval layout, still preserves the remains of the 13th-century city walls, but the names of the streets, which recall the medieval guilds of artisans, are a reminder of its glorious past: Via dei Fabbri, Via del Conciatore, Via del Boscaiolo, Via del Mulino, Via del Forno, Via della Conserva, Piazzetta dell'Aia.
Exploring the village
Another important monument is located in the central square, behind the church. This is the elegant Palazzo Malaspina, with a sandstone portal and a porticoed courtyard with a stone fountain and a 16th century statue.
Places to visit include: the ancient church of San Siro, the oldest part of Godiasco with its ancient palazzi and the ancient old church of San Siro and Santa Reparata, built in the 12th century. Mass was celebrated here every day by order of the Marquis Antonio Malaspina. Today it houses a permanent exhibition of works donated by the local painter Giovanni Battista Novaresio.
The new parish church of San Siro, inaugurated in 1935, was built according to the canons of the early 20th century, with exposed brickwork, coloured stained-glass windows and carved woodwork, reflecting the craftsmanship of the area.
In the ancient hamlet of Piumesana, immersed in the greenery of secular trees, stands the church of San Giovanni, in late Romanesque style, dated by historians to before 1560; in fact it is mentioned in a document of 1595 in the parish church of San Zaccaria. The old hamlet of Molino del Groppo, with the perfectly restored mill of the Malaspina family, is interesting.
Salice Terme, a kingdom for sportsmen
The main town of the municipality, Salice Terme, with its splendid 30-hectare park, is not only home to a renowned spa (currently being reopened), but also a popular tourist and entertainment centre for sports enthusiasts, who can enjoy swimming, tennis, golf and horse-riding. There is also an adventure park with attractions for both adults and children.
The fortress of Montalfeo
On the first hill that surrounds Salice is Montalfeo, a place already known to the Romans for its underground sulphurous springs, which in the Middle Ages became the site of a splendid fortress, part of the network of castles built by the Malaspina marquises to control the salt road. Destroyed in the second half of the 14th century by order of Galeazzo II Visconti, to whom the marquises refused to submit, and rebuilt in the following years, it now presents itself as a medieval-style castle, privately owned, composed of a central body annexed to the tower.
An explosion of colours during the lavender season
In spring, when the lavender fields are in bloom, Godiasco is bathed in the colours of Provence. In fact, several local companies have dedicated themselves to the cultivation of this precious plant with its many uses and have started to produce lavender-based products. In the hamlet of Gomo, a giant bench has recently been erected in the light blue and white colours of the Godiasco cycling team of the 1950s. From here, at about 500 metres above sea level, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Staffora Valley, Alessandria and the Po Valley.
St Martin's Fair: an ancient tradition
L ’11 novembre, giorno di San Martino, a Godiasco si festeggia con l’Antica fiera di San Martino. In passato questo era il giorno in cui la fiera non era solo un grande mercato di bestiame, spezie, prodotti agricoli, pelli e tessuti, ma anche il luogo per la stipula o la rescissione dei contratti agrari e delle affittanze immobiliari. La Fiera, che ha oltre tre secoli di storia, si ripropone ogni anno con rievocazioni storiche, musiche popolari, mercatini e stand alimentari.
