Top 20 Natural Monuments around Abano Terme

One of the oldest garden complexes in Italy with ancient trees. Worth a visit for nature lovers.

The Castle of Speronella was a military fortification erected in the 10th century near the summit of Monte Pendìce (300 m a.s.l.): the height, due to its isolated and overhanging morphology, offered a strategic position from which to control both slopes of the hills, the valleys, and the plain. In 1320 it was besieged by the Scaligeri but resisted, earning the reputation of an impregnable fortress; later it was used as a prison and finally as a holiday resort for the Orologio family. The story of Speronella Dalesmanini, between legend and reality, dates back to the medieval period: she was a fifteen-year-old girl who had captured the fancy of the imperial vicar, who had her locked up here; but her family incited the people to a revolt that led to the girl's liberation and the defeat of the representative of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, thus declaring the birth of the free commune of Padua. Today, ruins remain of the fortress: traces of walls and a scenic window overlooking the Euganean Hills. https://www.visitteolo.it/it/castelli/ruderi-castello-speronella-rocca-pendice-colli-euganei/

A magical place in the heart of the Euganei Hills.

Monte Pirio, located in Torreglia, is one of the most spectacular peaks in the Euganean Hills Regional Park. At 328 meters, it stands out for its characteristic trachyte walls that emerge among the vineyards, creating a landscape of strong geological contrast. From its summit, you can enjoy an extraordinary view that ranges from the imposing Praglia Abbey to the reliefs of Monte Pendice and Monte Venda. The trails that cross it are immersed in Mediterranean scrub and chestnut groves, offering routes highly appreciated by hikers and mountain bike lovers. Pirio perfectly embodies the essence of the Euganean Hills, blending the wild nature of volcanic rocks with the centuries-old local winemaking tradition, representing a landmark for those seeking suggestive panoramas and tranquility just a stone's throw from Padua and the thermal centers.

Valsanzibio was brought to splendor in the second half of the 17th century by the Venetian nobleman Zuane Francesco Barbarigo and his son Antonio following a solemn vow made in 1631 to escape the plague (1630/31). The eldest son, Gregory, a cardinal and future saint, inspired the lofty symbolism of the monumental layout by the papal architect and fountain designer Luigi Bernini and wanted the garden of Valsanzibio to be a monumental emblem of the path to perfection that leads man from Error to Truth, from Ignorance to Revelation. Over sixty statues, mostly by Merengo, and an equal number of smaller sculptures are integrated into the architecture, waterfalls, fountains, and water features on 15 hectares of unspoiled hillside nature.

Beautiful view of the hills and the surrounding plain.

A really beautiful hike, enchanted paths, great view at the top. I wouldn't classify it as easy though. If it has rained a few days before, at least the ascent is muddy and slippery, and further up it is difficult to walk because it is very rocky. The descent is also steep and rocky at the beginning.

Beautiful view from Monte Pirlo on the other mountains