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The city of Montegrotto Terme
The hot water which flows from Montegrotto’s subsoil has been a vital component of treatments and cures
since the ancient Roman times. The name of the city itself, which originates from “Mons Aegrotorum” – literally “mountain of sick people” – further testifies to the essential role of the hot water in promoting well-being. The ancient populations that inhabited these areas already well understood the therapeutic properties of hot water and attributed its cause to the gods. In fact, the miniature sculptures representing parts of the human body, called “ex voto” and discovered during excavations, were none other than special offers to the gods from sick people who were healed by the waters, and which were then thrown into the lakes as a sign of recognition.
An open air museum
Right in the Montegrotto city centre, you can see the archeological area from the Roman Republican and Augustan age, that was brought to light thanks to some excavations in the first half of the 20th century. Here we have the remains of a thermal center with three tanks for immersion and the proven Roman system of canals, which was structured into channels, outfalls, and settling tanks , which is also found in other ancient Thermae discovered. Always in this area, we can find the remains of a theatre and of a Nymphaeum, a “water place” where people rested during the otium moments, characterized by open galleries and water tanks with aquatic plants.
In spite of its prestige, Montegrotto is truly a place for all men and women. The city’s center is lively yet tiny, with a promenade surrounded by numerous shops as well as restaurants where visitors can taste food and wine.
The markets
The weekly market is on Thursday in the marketplace; with its 192 parking lots, it is one of the biggest in the area of Padova, and a tourist attraction as well.
Vintage and antiques: this market takes place on the second Sunday of every month along Viale Stazione and Via Manzoni, with about 70 stands.
Places to visit
Oratoy of the Madonna
Located in the centre of old Montegrotto, rebuilt during the 18th Century on pre-existing medieval foundations. The bell tower, dated 13th century, is thought to be derived from the tower of an ancient castle.
SS. Pietro e Paolo Cathedral Dome
It is a majestic building both for its dome and because it soars up a hill (Prebenda hill), that overlooks the whole city. It was built in the mid-1900s on the remains of a roman building. Inside it there are frescos by Armando Miglioraro and sculptures by Luigi Strazzabosco.
Butterfly Arc
Butterfly Arc, near the archaeological site, is the first “live” butterfly exhibition orchestrated in Italy. The most beautiful and big specimens in the world fly uninhibited among plants and flowers in three gigantic tropical gardens: Amazonian, Indo-Australian, and African. More »
Pay attention to…
Bronze statues Montegrotto is scattered with bronze statues, which represent both animals and people. Therefore, you will find children statues at the
pedestrian crossings and near the schools, as well as the characteristic figure of the “fanghino” that is the operator who extracts mud from the hotels’ maturation tanks, concentrated in his work, in the square in front of the rail station, which symbolizes the tourist-thermal vocation of the city.
Mural paintings If you walk along the pedestrian area, you will see two mural paintings on the façades of the buildings: one represents a water source, symbol of the thermal area, the second one represents the “young” life of the city.
A stone's throw from the centre
Adding to the beauty of Montegrotto is the setting of the Euganean Hills Regional Park, which offers many insights into lush nature, medieval villages and Venetian villas
Villa Draghi
An imposing 18th century villa, named after its last owners, surrounded by greenery near Monte Ceva. The villa can be visited every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the hill with its paths is a destination for both locals and tourists for walks and rides in the greenery. Temporary exhibitions are hosted inside and can be visited during the villa's opening hours.
Museum of Ancient Thermalism and the Territory >>
It is housed in the Rustico of Villa Draghi, at the beginning of the slope leading up to the villa. It is an interactive, immersive, customisable museum; a visitor experience that is a dynamic, multi-sensory journey through thermalism, its history and territory. 3000 years of history of the thermal area are told through 452 extraordinary artefacts found in the archaeological areas of Montegrotto Terme and 9 multimedia and interactive installations. Opening hours: Friday 16-19 Saturday and Sunday 10am-7pm All other days by appointment for groups and school classes (info@museodeltermalismo.it) Mondays closed www.museodeltermalismo.it
