Euganean Hills
The Euganean Hills (Colli Euganei) are a group of volcanic hills rising dramatically from the flat Venetian plain a few kilometres south of Padua, reaching heights of 300 to 600 metres above the surrounding lowlands. Formed by ancient volcanic intrusions and lava flows, the hills constitute the first Regional Park established in Veneto (1989), covering nearly 22,000 hectares across 81 hills and fifteen municipalities. In 2024 the Colli Euganei joined the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, confirming their outstanding natural, cultural, and agricultural heritage.
At a glance
- Type
- Regional Natural Park of volcanic origin
- Period
- Volcanic activity in the Paleogene era; human settlement since prehistoric times; Regional Park since 1989; UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2024
- Style
- Mixed volcanic landscape with medieval villages, thermal spas, vineyards, and literary heritage
- Location
- South of Padua, Veneto — 45.3167° N, 11.6667° E
Overview
The Euganean Hills are a group of hills of volcanic origin, created by volcanic cones or lava flows, which rise to heights of 300 to 600 metres from the Padovan-Venetian plain a few kilometres south of Padua. The Colli Euganei form the first Regional Park established in Veneto (1989), occupying an area with a roughly elliptical perimeter of almost 22,000 hectares, comprising 81 hills and fifteen municipalities. Their unique shape — isolated volcanic domes rising abruptly from flat terrain — gives them a distinctive presence visible across the Venetian plain and from the lagoon on clear days.
History
The hills have been inhabited since the Bronze Age and were known to the Romans as Fons Aponi, valued for the thermal springs that still supply the spa towns of Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme at their feet. Medieval lords, including the Carrara family of Padua, built castles and villages on the hilltops; the Benedictine abbey of Praglia, founded in the eleventh century on the western flank, is still an active monastery. The hills provided refuge and inspiration for Petrarch, who spent the last years of his life at Arquà (now Arquà Petrarca), where his house and tomb are preserved as a literary monument. The area became one of Italy’s first protected landscapes when Veneto established the Regional Park in 1989.
What you see
The hills present a mosaic of volcanic woodland — dominated by turkey oak, chestnut, and hornbeam — interspersed with vineyards producing Colli Euganei DOC wines (including native varieties such as Serprino and Fior d’Arancio) and olive groves. Medieval villages crown the higher summits, most notably Arquà Petrarca with its perfectly preserved historic centre, and Este at the southern edge, known for its Este culture Bronze Age finds now in the Museo Atestino. The Benedictine abbey of Praglia offers guided visits to its library, cloisters, and herbal workshop. At the base of the hills, the thermal spa district of Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme provides some of the most concentrated spa infrastructure in Europe, drawing visitors for mud therapy and thermal bathing since antiquity.
Cultural significance
The Euganean Hills hold a layered significance in Italian culture: as the chosen home of Petrarch, father of Italian humanism, they are a site of literary pilgrimage; as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve they are a model for integrating traditional agriculture, thermal heritage, and nature conservation; and as the first Veneto regional park they represent a milestone in Italian landscape protection. The hills’ position between Padua — home of the basilica of Sant’Antonio, Donatello’s bronzes, and one of Europe’s oldest universities — and Venice places them at the centre of one of the richest cultural zones in the world.
Practical information
- Location
- South of Padua, accessible from Abano Terme, Montegrotto Terme, Este, and Arquà Petrarca
- Regional Park office
- Check official website for trails, events, and visitor information
- Thermal spas
- Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme have numerous hotel-spa complexes open year round
- Website
- parcocollieuganei.com
Getting there
The hills are easily reached from Padua by car (15–20 minutes on the SS16 or SR10 toward Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme) or by local bus services from Padua’s bus station. Padua itself is on the main Venice–Milan high-speed rail line; from Venice Santa Lucia the journey takes about 25 minutes. Arquà Petrarca, the most celebrated village, is best reached by car from the SS16; Este has a railway station on the Padua–Monselice–Mantova line.