South of Padua
A few kilometers southwest of Padua, the Euganean Hills suddenly appear among the plains (Euganean Hills), whose slopes - between villages, villas and churches - overgrown with vineyards. The spa towns of ABANO TERME and MONTEGROTTO TERME lie between Padua and the hills., most of the year full of people coming here for treatment or beauty treatments in radioactive spas and mud baths. The towns are mostly made up of modern hotels and it is better to avoid them, unless someone wants to warm up in hot springs.
A car is very useful for exploring the Colli Euganei itself, because buses run rarely and on few routes. The main architectural attractions of this region are villas, many of which are in private hands and can only be viewed from a distance.
The exception is Villa Barbarigo in VALSANZIBIO, famous for its amazing gardens, which were founded in 1699 r. and include a maze and fantastic baroque gates (half. III-X wt.-sb. 10.00-12.00 i 14.00-19.00, nd. 14.00-19.00).
The medieval village of ARQUA PETRARCA is a pearl among the Euganean Hills, which is easiest to reach by bus from Este or Monselice (look down). The poet Francesco Petrarca spent his summer vacation here at the end of his life and died here. His house is still standing, with a preserved desk and chair, and also with partially left interior decor, although the frescoes illustrating his works were left in the 17th century. retouched (IV-IX wt.-sb. 9.30-12.30 i 15.30-19.30, nd. 15.00-19.00, X-III wt.-sb. 9.30-12.30 i 13.30-16.30, nd. 10.00-16.00). Petrarch's sarcophagus is located in the center of the village, with the epitaph, whose author was the poet himself, and others - the feathers of his son-in-law, who put them here.
Monselice
Directions to MONSELICE, an attractive town situated at a fork in the railway line, it is much easier than to a village closer to Padua. In the old days, the city was perched on a volcanic rock, at whose feet it has spread out now. On the way from the train station to the central Mazzini square, you pass the remains of the city walls.
The main monument of Monselice is situated just behind the square, Ezzelino Castle, also called Ca ’Marcello (tour IV-IX Tue, thurs. i sb. 9.00-10.30, 15.30 i 17.00, nd. 9.00 i 10.30; X i XI wt., thurs. i sb. 9.00,10.30, 14.30 i 16.00, nd. 9.00 i 10.30; 3000 L). Dating from the 11th century. the building was extended in the 13th century by Ezzelin da Romano, who added a quadrangular tower on the other side of the courtyard. The interior design was changed in the 14th century. Carrara, and the connection of the two parts of the building is the work of the Marcello family. The castle owes its immaculate appearance to Count Vittorio Cini, who after the First World War took over the care of the ruined building from a caring army and spent a fortune to renovate the castle and equip both parts in the appropriate style.
W Old Cathedral, higher up the hill, fragments of 14th-century frescoes and a romanesque-gothic polyptych have been preserved (multi-winged altar). Behind the cathedral, a gate guarded by two Venetian lions leads to via Sette Chiese, private road leading to Villa Duodo (open area daily. XI-II 9.00-12.30 i 13.30-19.00; 3-5, IX and X 8.00-12.00 i 13.30-19.00; 6-8 7.00-12.30 i 15.30-20.00). Seven churches, from which the name of the road comes, are miniature versions of seven pilgrim churches in Rome, six chapels in a row leading to the Church of San Giorgio at the top. Sinners prayed for a forgiveness of wines in turn in each of the chapels on the way to San Giorgio, where, in glass and wooden cabinets, there are rows of relics of the holy martyrs. You are not allowed to climb the stairs to the Rocca - Ezzelino's citadel at the top - as the area is now a rare bird sanctuary.
Information can be obtained from Pro Loco in Piazza Mazzini (codz. 8.30-12.30 i 17.00-20.00). You can eat the best in Caffe Grand Italia (nd. close), also in the square.
It is
If you want to visit the Euganean Hills and you need to use public transport, best to stay in ESTE, ceramics production center, located on the southern edge of the foothills - just eight minutes by train from Monselice. Local buses run from here sporadically, in Piazza Maggiore, visit the Pro Loco (pn.-sb. 9.00-12.00 i 16.00-18.00).
The square has direct access to the ruins of Castello dei Carraresi, which was partly used for the building material of the nearby 16th-century palace, now housing the Museo Nazionale Atestino (IV-IX wt.-sb. 9.00-13.00 i 15.00-19.00; X-III wt.-sb. 9.00-13.00 i 15.00-18.00; 2000 L). The first floor houses an outstanding collection of antiquities from before Roman times, while most of the ground floor is occupied by an exhibition of Roman remains. In the room dedicated to the Middle Ages, there is the Madonna with the Child of Cima, which was once stolen from the Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione and is now kept here for safety.
Baroque Duomo, erected on the plan announcing the Venetian Pieta, it contains a huge altar painting, St. Tekla, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, not one of the master's best works, maybe that's why, that the scenery is plague and death, and not typical of Tiepol luminous skies.
The best one-star hotel in town is Leon d'Oro on viale Fiume 20 (0429/2955), where twos cost from 28 000 L. You can eat something at Al Gambrero, via d'Azeglio 6, or at Da Piero Ceschi, Trento square 16.