The 11 Most Amazing Peaks around Este

Former NATO military base active from 1955 to 1998, occupying the entire summit of Monte Venda, the highest of the Euganean Hills (601 m). On the surface, only the logistical buildings were located – housing, canteens, and clubs – while the real operational heart was hidden in the bowels of the mountain, between 20 and 70 meters deep, inside a tunnel about a kilometer long. Over 500 soldiers worked in the bunker in three shifts, with Top Secret protocols. Officially, the base was called 1st ROC (Regional Operational Command), but in communications, it was referred to by the code name "Rupe" (Rock), because it was dug into the rock. In the midst of the Cold War, the site played a crucial role in the defense against the Warsaw Pact: the air traffic of central-northern Italy, both civilian and military, was monitored from here thanks to radar and repeaters located on Venda and in the Alps. Every aircraft was identified, and in case of a threat, the defensive procedure could be activated immediately. Monte Venda was chosen for its dominant position over the Venetian plain and for the excellent coverage of the airspace in the Northeast, considered strategic in case of invasion. Over time, however, the dark side of the base emerged: the underground environments showed high concentrations of radon, a natural radioactive gas typical of volcanic terrain; a silent killer, as it is colorless and odorless. Furthermore, asbestos, considered harmless at the time, was widely used in the structures. Dozens of soldiers, exposed for months or years to these factors, contracted lung cancer. According to judicial proceedings, NATO leadership knew about the problem as early as the late 1980s, but the personnel were not adequately informed. Today, the base is an abandoned and toxic ruin in the heart of the Euganean Hills UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: external buildings and underground rooms are empty and vandalized. Access is still forbidden and the area is fenced off; on the summit of Venda, the tall RAI antennas, also visible from the plain, and perhaps some military repeaters, remain active. N.B.: radon and asbestos are still present in the tunnel. Radon becomes dangerous after prolonged exposure, but asbestos fibers represent the most immediate risk if inhaled, as they settle in the lungs. ENTERING WITHOUT PROTECTION (FFP3 and perhaps a Tyvek suit) IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Base_NATO_Venda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX3h4lPZDw4

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/

Il Corno del Venda is one of the most striking reliefs in the Euganean Hills Regional Park, located in the territory of Galzignano Terme on the western slope of Monte Venda. With its 440 meters of altitude, it stands out for its wild nature and imposing trachyte walls that offer landscape views of rare beauty. The area is crossed by highly significant hiking trails, such as the path dedicated to G.G. Lorenzoni, which offers spectacular views towards Monte Lozzo and the Po Valley. Characterized by dense vegetation of chestnut trees and Mediterranean scrub, Corno del Venda is a place where volcanic geology meets history, given the proximity to the ruins of the ancient Olivetan Monastery. Less frequented than the main summit, it represents an ideal destination for those seeking a more immersive and quiet trek, far from tourist flows, in an environment that preserves the primordial charm of the hills intact.

Short but technical route with non-trivial slopes

great to do at the beginning of spring

At the foot of Mount Fasolo, along the dirt road that passes in front of the wine shop of the same name, there is a beautiful view of the Euganean Hills, among gentle slopes covered with neat vineyards, olive groves and almond groves.

Return point of our tour in the central-northern area of the Park

Also ideal for gravel bike riders! More tips for gravel bike adventures in the area at https://graveldeluxe.com or in my Komoot profile https://www.komoot.de/user/graveldeluxe