Rivanazzano is two villages in a single name, one for each bank of the Staffora. Riva stood where the tower with the pentagonal plan is today, in the middle of the built-up area; Nazzano on the hill opposite, with a castle that kept watch over the valley. They remained independent until the seventeenth century, and what joined them was a purchase: the Mezzabarba of Pavia obtained the fief of Riva in 1609 and in 1613 bought that of Nazzano as well, bringing together first the two fiefs and then the two comuni.
The oldest place in the area, though, was called Vico Lardario, and it is known from 1006 onwards: that name stayed in use in church documents throughout the Middle Ages. Through here ran the Lombard salt road, the one the mule trains followed up the Staffora valley to reach Genoa by way of the Giovà pass and Monte Antola. The word Terme was added to the name only in 2009, after a referendum in which the citizens voted to change it.
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
Near Rivanazzano Terme
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
