eolo.

T Places of intensely captivating ancient culture. Places of intensely capti- vating ancient culture. Situated in a position straddling the hills that dominated the route that passed by the fons Aponi to link to Este, Teolo has since ancient times been chosen as a pleasant place to live thanks to the salubriousness of its air and its easily defended position. Evidence of paleovenetian settlements have been found from Castelnuovo all the way to Monte Rosso. In 1837, along the way to Castelnuovo, a border marking stone laid in the 2nd century BC by the Roman proconsul A.C. Metello was rediscovered. The 1 function of the stone was to define the exact border between the territory of Patavium and that of Ateste, it is from the Latin term for this titulus (= border) that the name Teolo is derived. Over the course of the centuries the name mutated and appears in various manuscripts as Tetholo, Tedolo, 2 Theolo, and is finally recorded as Teolo area and became part of the territory ruled by the Most in papers relating 3 Serene Republic of (Repubblica Serenissima di to the the bishop’s Venezia, often referred to simply as the “Serenissima”). pastoral visit in 1592. The possessions of the Padua nobility were put to auction The fact that the area was the cause of some conflict and bought by the aristocratic families of Venice. It was between the two communities demonstrates that the during the four centuries of Venetian dominion that Teolo desirability of this land was already felt in ancient times. became populated with a wealth of splendid villas. At the When the Romans settled permanently in the Padua area beginning of the 1800s, following the fall of the Republic they connected the flatlands to the hills with the “strada of Venice, Teolo’s importance diminished under the new Montanara” or Mountain road, today the “strada dei Napoleonic order, but it did however remain the district Colli” or Hills road. During the Lombardic era one of the centre. It was only in 1862, under Austrian rule, that Teolo most important agricultural estates in the Padua area was lost its Police Station and District Court. The municipal instituted in the present day hamlet of Villa. seat was transferred to the venerable Villa Revese in During the Middle Ages Titulo was an important strategic Treponti in the plains, and the borders that were re-drawn centre in the : from the start various were for the most part similar to the present day divisions. fortified structures were built there, such as the castle at Today the Teolo territory covers a large area, about 31 Castelnuovo and that on Roccapendice, and numerous square kilometres (it is one of the largest territories in the monasteries, including the beautiful and still active abbey Province) and has a population of almost 9000 divided complex in Praglia. In the 13th century it became the over 12 towns, some in the hills, such as Castelnuovo and seat of the ruling Podesteria (a district administered by a Teolo, others in the plains such as Villa, Treponti, Bresseo, Podestà), and later that of a Vicarage. Praglia, San Biagio, San Benedetto, Feriole, Monterosso, The Vicarage seat was in the palazzo now called Tramonte, and Monteortone. Palazzetto dei Vicari, built in the 16th century, which is today home to the Museo di Arte Contemporanea Dino 1 Panorama of Teolo Alto. Formaggio (contemporary art museum) and the tourist 2 Area below Rocca Pendice. office. In 1405 with the fall of the ruling Da Carrara 3 Palazzetto dei Vicari. family, Teolo followed the fate of the rest of the Padua 4 Panorama of the Euganean Hills. In the Euganean Hills Regional Park with the nearby spas. A large part of the Teolo territory is situated within Air Force, and it has been easily identifiable for years due the Parco Regionale dei Colli Euganei (Euganean Hills to the large RAI (Italian state tv/radio) relay aerial that Regional Park) set up in 1989 to protect and safeguard adds its own 160 metres to the top of the hill. Teolo is also an unusual area of over 20,000 hectares characterised part of one of the oldest and most renowned European by a around a hundred hills with their characteristic thermal basins, the Terme Euganee. Together with Abano, cone shape, which create a skyline of soft contours. The Montegrotto, Galzignano, and Battaglia, it is able to unusual shape of these hills is the result of underwater offer an almost unique combination of volcanic activity over 35 million years ago, which relaxation and spa treatments based caused magma to burst through the earth’s crust. As on traditional mud-therapy as well as far as concerns nature, the Hills offer an incomparable on the most recent and variety of vegetation. The morphology of the rocks, and innovative forms of especially the microclimate, allow the combined presence wellness treatments, and alternation of typical Mediterranean maquis species thanks to the spa (above all on the southern slopes) with other species hotels present in of mixed vegetation (chestnut, manna ash, common nearby Monteortone. hornbeam, and oak), alternating with fruit orchards, olive The tourist opportunities groves, vineyards and vegetable gardens. The highest offered by Teolo are many peak is monte Venda with its 601 metres, it was for many and varied, it is possible to years the site of one of the most important bases of the choose between a relaxing sojourn at a thermal spa or a more active kind of holiday, thanks to the network of footpaths and cycle routes, a holiday of relaxation in direct contact with nature, or simply enjoy a restorative week-end in one of the wellness centres, or follow one of the wine and food routes exploring wineries, farm-hotels, restaurants and trattorias, where you can discover the tasty products of the Euganean territory.

Environmental Quality.

In 2009, Teolo was amongst the first Italian municipalities to earn EMAS environmental certification in recognition of its qualitative standards and the correct environmental management of its territory. This is seen not only as an achievement, but 4 a commitment to ensure a higher quality of life for its citizens in the future, and that the experience for tourists and visitors to the area is ever more enjoyable. Cultural routes: museums, villas, and sacred sites.

The Palazzetto dei Vicari stands in the centre of Teolo. It 1400, work started on the bell tower. From here a road was built in the 1300s and enlarged in the 16th century climbs upwards, crossing the Parco Lieta Carraresi (nature to provide accommodation for the Vicars, Paduan nobility reserve), a woodland area protected for its panoramic and nominated by the Republic of Venice with administrative natural value, until it reaches the monte della Madonna and military obligations during the era of Venetian (mount of the Madonna), on top of which stands the dominion. The building sports a loggia and a clock tower santuario della Madonna del Monte (sanctuary), built in (the mechanism dates 1510 near a 12th century hermitage and entrusted to the back to 1543) and is Benedictine monks of the abbey in Praglia. today the home of On the southern slopes of Monte della Madonna, is the the Museo di Arte Oratorio di S.Antonio Abate Contemporanea, (oratory of St Anthony the (museum of Abbot). A local legend has it contemporary art) that St Felicity hid in a cave named in honour here where she had a vision; of Dino Formaggio, her body is venerated in the the world famous basilica di Santa Giustina (St philosopher and Justine basilica) in Padua. art critic. In the As well as the cave there higher part of Teolo is a small church dedicated stands the Pieve di to S. Antonio Abate (St S. Giustina (parish Anthony the Abbot); which church of St. Justine), in centuries past had a which was cited in the 1 hermitage added to it. It papal tithes of 1297. 2 belonged to the monks of Inscriptions inside Santa Giustina (St Justine), the church, reported and the coat of arms above the door is a reminder of this. by Salomonio, A visit to the ruins of the Monastero degli Olivetani demonstrate that (monastery) on the hill of Monte Venda (mount) is it was repaired in particularly striking. Devoted since the 12th century to 1290 and finished in meditation and as a place for hermits, it reached the 1310. On 5th April height of its splendour with the monks of the Order of Saint Benedict, followed by the Olivetani monks. The monastery was closed down in 1771 by order of the 3 Republic of Venice. The Oratorio della Croce (Oratory of the Crucifix) in Villa di Teolo is home to an ancient poplar wood crucifix to the right of the main altar which dates back to between 1500 and 1600, and was inspired by the Donatello school.

1 Palazzetto dei Vicari, and the “D. Formaggio” Museum of Contemporary Art. 2 Oratorio di S. Antonio Abate on Monte Madonna. 3 Cloister of the sanctuary on Monte della Madonna. 4 Ruins of the Olivetani monastery on Monte Venda.

4 At Bresseo the beautiful Villa Cavalli constitutes, as is codexes. The country church dedicated to St Benedict, the case of many Venetian villas, the urban hub of the San Benedetto delle Selve, was built in 1304 by abbot locality, the raison d’être of the town - says Brunelli. Mauro of Praglia, for the country folk who were at that Built in the 17th century by the Cavalli family, an time spreading across the lands being reclaimed. For aristocratic family of Bavarian origin, which on war centuries the church’s services were irregularly officiated merits (Giacomo Cavalli had been a capable military leader) had been associated with the Venetian nobility since 1381. The villa is composed of a simple central nucleus flanked by two long “barchesse” wings at the ends of which the guest houses are placed perpendicularly to the main building, one of which houses the oratory. Large scowling masks look down from above the left hand arches, their crude manufacture is 17th century, in contrast to the well sculpted 18th century smiling masks, representing the two faces to 5 by the Tramonte parish priest or by the monks. In 1646 abbot Luigi Righi had it restored and had the presbytery built, creating on one side a small sacristy and a belfry on the other. In 1714 Angelo M. Noli a monk of Praglia had the altar erected, it is made from Costozza marble 6 with polychrome marble life. In the pastoral visit of panels. The ownership of 1747 the oratory is referred to the church passed from as being present in the Bresseo hand to hand at the mercy area with the name Maternità 7 of events involving the di Maria Vergine (maternity of surrounding agrarian assets that had once belonged the Virgin Mary) belonging to to the monks but were expropriated under Napoleonic the Venetian nobleman Giacomo rule (1806). In the end the building was bought in 1939 Cavalli, and where service/mass by Giusto Zanon, owner of a building business, who was held daily. It was built by returned it to the Benedictines in the same year. Jacopo Cavalli in about 1740 (Brunelli, 1931). The villa was inherited by the Giustinian 5 Villa delle Rose - Tramonte. family in the 18th century, and 6 Villa Cavalli - Bresseo. then passed to the Forti who 7 Oratorio della Croce in Villa di Teolo. were bankers, and then to the 8 The abbey in Praglia. Lugli family; today it is owned by the Malandrin. The Abbazia di S. Maria di Praglia (St Mary abbey, Praglia), founded in the 11th century at the foot of Monte Lonzina (mount), was, for the whole of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the stronghold of the Benedictine order’s agricultural colonisation throughout the territory west of Padua. The impressive complex includes the church, built between 1490 and 1550, probably to plans drawn up by Tullio Lombardo, and the monastery, which boasts a pretty upper level cloister from the late 1400s, a botanic cloister, a rustic cloister, double cloisters surrounded by the monks’ cells, the delightful “sala del Capitolo” room, the library, and the “monumental refectory”. The abbey is universally recognised for the important work the monks themselves do in restoring old books and illuminated 8 Nature routes.

A number of beautiful nature trails start in the Teolo area, signposted by the Euganean Hills regional park, they are ideal routes for people who love walking in the countryside: the Monte Grande path (trail No 14), the Monte della Madonna path (No 17) includes a trip to two old religious sites: the small oratorio di S. Antonio Abate (oratory of Saint Anthony the Abbot) datable to the 14th century; and the Madonna sanctuary with its small Benedictine monastery. The Monte Venda path (No 9), the Monte 9 Venda - G. G. Lorenzoni path (No In the hamlet of 4), the Monte Rosso Tramonte, where the path (No 16), and castle of the Maltraversi the as yet incomplete once stood, stands the Monteortone path. church dedicated to St Another path that George, Chiesa di San starts in the Teolo Giorgio, this ancient area (more precisely building contains from Villa) is the frescoes dating back to Alta Via dei Colli around the year 1000. Euganei (High route Here you can also see of the Euganean the Villa delle Rose, Hills), this is a hike an elegant palazzo that that covers over 40 reflects the grace and kilometres, climbs proportions of 18th 10 2000 metres, and century architecture. This crosses the most oasis belonged to the Rosa family in the 18th century, but important peaks in had previously belonged to a family that had produced the territory of the more military men than abbots, the , one regional park. For of the most illustrious dynasties of the Padua territory. The those who prefer to explore the history of the Abbazia palazzo is crowned by a crenelated border and a pediment di Praglia (Praglia Abbey), we suggest the Del Giubileo whose tympanum bears the Rosa coat of arms, a red rose path: a 4.5 km circular trail that starts in the abbey’s in a field of gold, and holds 5 admirable statues. The villa car park and climbs between the green of the hills Delle has an especially attractive variety of elegant wrought iron work by an unknown, but certainly no ordinary, craftsman. Today a number of paintings, engravings, and drawings are kept in the villa - including a number of works by Piazzetta - and also four wood carved putti attributed to Andrea Brustolon.

9 Detail of the church in Castelnuovo. 10 The bell tower of the church in Castelnuovo. 11 View of Palazzetto dei Vicari. 12 The church in Teolo Alto. 12 Are and Lonzina. Informative material about each of the Park’s trails is available from the Regional Park 11 information points, and tourist information offices. Sports routes. Food and wine routes.

For an all round exploration of the territory’s nature, Given its climatic properties, the area offers wine and history and culture we suggest another more energetic food routes that exalt the traditional Venetian cuisine approach. Mountain biking, hiking and horse riding and grape and winegrowing. A good thirteen types are all valid of DOC wine are cultivated in the Euganean Hills, alternatives. including Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, An unusual sporting Serprino, and Moscato Fior d’Arancio. event that has Amongst the traditional products we can find oil, become an annual honey, various types of cheese, and seasonal fruit such event is the World as sweet chestnuts, cherries, peas, and jujubes. Downhill (end of Typical local dishes that will delight your palate are July - beginning the “bigoli” (a kind of thick spaghetti), and gnocchi of August), where garnished with athletes from all over excellent sauces the world launch such as chicken themselves on skates or duck ragouts, or skateboards down and the risottos the tried and tested with wild 1600 metre route herbs and wild from Castelnuovo mushrooms from to Teolo. Recently the hills. the practice of orienteering, on foot or with mountain 15 bikes, has once again 13 become popular in the Teolo area. For climbing enthusiasts Teolo offers a natural training rock face on Rocca Pendice, recently acquired by the Euganean Hills Park Authority. It is a cliff of volcanic rock, a 130 metre high vein of trachyte, which in the spring plays host to the CAI’s (Italian Alpine Club) mountaineering courses. Golf is another sport that is much enjoyed in the Euganean Hills area. There are 3 excellent courses: the Golf Club Padova in Galzignano, the Golf House Spa Frassanelle and the Montecchia. 16 For horse riding enthusiasts there is a wealth of choice: trekking routes cross the whole of the regional Traditional events. park’s territory, which has various stables equipped for both beginners and experienced riders. April - Sagra del Gnocco (Gnocchi festival) April - Primavera a Tramonte (Spring in Tramonte) August - Festa del Villeggiante (Holiday makers festival) October - Antica Fiera di Bresseo (Old fair of Bresseo) October - Sagra dei Maroni (Sweet Chestnut festival) with roast chestnut tasting

13 The training rock face, Rocca Pendice. 14 The Downhill sports event. 15 The gnocchi festival in Teolo. 16 Supper under the stars 14 Piazzetta Tito Livio in Teolo Alto. Treviso (70 km)andVerona (80km) Padova, thenfollowthesignstoMontegrottoandTeolo. at Terme Euganeeandtake themainroad“SSAdriatica” towards from thesouthPadova (Padua) -Bolognamotorwayexit road “Provinciale89”-Padova -Teolo; the turnoffforColliEuganei(EuganeanHills).Followmain exit atPadova Ovest(Padua West) (corsoAustralia)untilreaching from thenorthMilano-Venezia (MilanVenice) motorway By train: By car Aeroplane: How togethere Sat and Sun* from 09.30 to 12.30; from Fri.15.30 from to 19.30.15.30 to 19.30 Seasonal opening: from April to October e-mail: [email protected] Tel. +390499925680 Via Marconi,1 Palazzetto deiVicari Museum ofContemporaryArt“D.Formaggio” Tel. +390499998511 -fax+390499900264 Via EuganeaTreponti34 Teolo Town Hall Sat andSun*from09.30to12.30;15.3019.30. Fri. from15.30to19.30 Seasonal opening:fromApriltoOctober Tel +390499925680 Via Marconi,1 Palazzetto deiVicari Teolo Tourist Information Population: 8949 Territory area:31.11 km Altitude: 175m Geographical information: Padua. (Padua) andtake theTeolo -Valbona bus.Teolo is20Kmfrom Municipality of Padua, Photographic Studioof theEremitani Civic Museum, Teolo Municipal Archives, and Teolo ProLoco Archives. : get offatTerme EuganeeatMontegrotto,orPadova thenearestairportisVenice (47km)followedby © Photographs: Padua Terme Euganee Tourism Archive/A. Mazzetti,M.Danesin, C.Gibellato,L. Tomasin; www.turismotermeeuganee.it www.turismopadova.it Fax +39049650794 Tel. +390498767911 www.stradadelvinocollieuganei.it www.prolocoteolo.it www.parcocollieuganei.com www.comune.teolo.pd.it Teolo CivilDefenceTel. +390499903705 Tel. +390499900436-9998546 Cultural EventsOffice Teolo Teolo SchoolAuthoritiesTel. +390499900151 Public LibraryTel. +390499998567 Museum of Contemporary Art “D. Formaggio” Tel. +39 Teolo Tourist Office Tel. +390499925680 Town Police Tel. +390499998516 Town HallTel. +390499998511 Useful numbers EUGANEN HILLS TOWNS motorway AIRPORT VERONA DIRECTION MILANO Comune

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December 2010