Vico Lardario was recorded in 1006 as the site of the pieve (small church) of St. German (San Germano) situated within the parish of Rivanazzano, at a short distance from the current town centre. This name was used in the church documents throughout the Middle Ages. We find information about a new location called Ripa in the 12th century, most likely near the river Staffora, where the pentagonal tower was erected later on. Meanwhile, Nazzano was developing on the hill dominating the opposite river bank, with its castle as a guardpost to protect the valley. Frederick I assigned it to the Malaspina family in 1164, but his successor, Henry VI, added it to the lands under the dominion of Pavia, as part of the Oltrepò, in 1191. The two communities, Ripa and Nazzano, were independent until 1613, when the Mezzabarba family, who had already owned the estate of Ripa, purchased Nazzano, thus uniting the two estates. The estate became subsequently the property of De Mari of Genova and was later inherited by the Rovereto family, in whose hands it remained until 1797, when feudalism was abolished. Its current name, Rivanazzano Terme, was deliberated in 2009, after a referendum. Places of interest: • 14th century Tower • Church of San Germano • 14th century castle • Spa In Nazzano • Malaspina castle • Church of San Giovanni Battista • Church of the Most Holy Trinity /Chiesa della Santissima Trinità