In the central area of the Veneto plains, among lagoon, hills and Alpine foothills, lies Padova Province, a mixture of art, cultures, flavors and traditions. When you visit the Padova Province you will discovery of a territory remarkably rich in history, culture, vitality and ingenuity, characterized by a great variety of places to see, products to taste, and people to meet.
WHAT TO SEE IN THE PADOVA PROVINCE
The city of Padua, dynamic and vivacious city with a vast historical and monumental heritage; it is surrounded by significant natural and cultural attractions: the Euganean Springs, the Euganean Hills, the Medieval defensive walls, castles, villas, a patchwork countryside and water flows that run east towards the Veneto Lagoon. The southeast is occupied by the Euganei Hills, a treasure chest of wonders. Green valleys and pretty hills covered in vineyards are made even more beautiful by the colors of spring, and the warm atmosphere of autumn. The hills enclose the largest thermal area in Europe, the Terme Euganei, internationally-renowned for their therapeutic waters, that after their long subterranean journey rise to the surface here. The principal spa centers are Abano, Montegrotto and Galzigano Terme, and they offer mudbath therapies and many of the most modern beauty and wellness treatments.
The Province is also made up of a vast network of navigable waterways. Between Padua and Venice, the Brenta River makes a river cruise (burchielli) an absolutely unforgettable experience. Cruisers will feel akin to the lords and aristocrats of Venice that used these boats to reach their summer residences - simple buildings that they had transformed into magnificent works of architecture, with the help of brilliant artists such as Palladio, Preti and Scamozzi. Summertime tours on the canals circling Padua offer unique occasions to see the city from a different perspective.
Otherwise, experiencing this terrain on a bicycle, exploring the network of paths, particularly along rivers and streams, is also an excellent choice: try the bike track in Padua or on the Euganean Riviera, or a romantic itinerary on the banks of the Battaglia Canal, with its lovely villas and scenic shortcuts through the Hills. A tour of the fortified cities is an intriguing way to get to know Padua’s long Medieval history. Cittadella, Este, Monselice and Montagnana are ideal for living the past, via commemorative re-enactments in period costumes, and the palios and jousts that animate these ancient villages every year.