The town, the result of the union of four districts and distinctive for its unusual geography, is best known for its springs and spa facilities.
It is said that here in ancient times, in the area named Posanguei, there was a silk-spinning mill and a lime kiln, activities that were buried together with the village by a landslide that came down from the slopes of Mount Cornalera.
The history of Gaverina Terme is very complex and dates back to the Middle Ages.
In fact, in addition to Posanguei, there was another settlement at the place known as Carbonale. The two villages were rivals and over the course of time, two municipalities were established, Piano and Gaverina, just a few hundred metres apart. Only under the rule of the Venetian Republic were the two municipalities merged, first under the name Gaverina con Piano, then simply Gaverina. Today the town is called Gaverina Terme.
This municipality has an unusual geographic conformation: today it comprises four districts located in the basin between the slopes of Colle Gallo hill and Mount Altinello. When arriving from Casazza, you reach the hamlet of Fonti, in lush green surroundings with springs where the bicarbonate-alkaline-sulphurous waters are used for bottling and spa treatments.
Further up, there is Trate, a “tiny ancient village”, where you can admire the small Baroque church dedicated to the Vergine Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows) in which there are two 18th-century paintings. The central altarpiece is attributed to Giovanni Carobbio.
Climbing up from Piazzale delle Terme (Spa Square) you reach the districts of Gaverina and Piano. The centre of Gaverina is dominated by the Church of San Rocco (Saint Roch), which dates back to the 17th century and is sited on a rocky spur where the medieval castle of the Giovannelli princes once stood.
In Piano, on a flat area near the Colle Gallo hill, the tower of the Suardi family, known as Facoc, dating back to the age of the Seigniories, can still be seen.
