Colli Euganei (Euganean Hills) Day Trip
Just 15 kilometres south-west of Padua, the Colli Euganei rise improbably from the dead-flat Po Plain like a cluster of green volcanic cones. This regional park packs medieval hilltop villages, Prosecco-cousin wine trails, thermal spa towns and easy hiking into an area small enough to explore in a single day by bike or car.
Key spots to hit
Arquà Petrarca, clinging to a wooded hillside, is the village where the poet Petrarch spent his last years and died in 1374; his mummified cat is displayed in his house museum, which is either macabre or charming depending on your disposition.
The village of Este at the southern edge of the hills has a powerful Carrarese castle and an excellent archaeological museum with pre-Roman Venetic finds that rival anything in Padua itself.
For a panoramic walk, the path from the sanctuary of Madonna della Rocca above Monselice to the summit of Monte Ricco takes about 45 minutes and delivers views across the entire plain to the Adriatic on clear days.
Thermal spas and wine
Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme, on the eastern flank of the hills, sit above one of Europe's most powerful thermal spring systems — the water emerges at 87 °C and is cooled to pool temperature. A day-spa entry at a mid-range hotel costs €25–40 and includes pools, sauna and fango mud treatments.
The Colli Euganei DOC wine zone produces a light, fragrant Fior d'Arancio Moscato DOCG — a gently sparkling sweet white that pairs perfectly with the almond biscuits called mandorlati di Arquà.
More of Padua
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Padua →
