Clearly visible from the terraces of Hotel Tritone, the Euganean Hills promise immersion in nature and silence. Sanctuaries, monasteries and abbeys stand on their gentle slopes and tell the story of the Paduan territory, its art and spirituality.

We will take you to these mystical places by presenting the Giro Cicloturistico dei Santuari, part of “Viaggi Euganei”, the series of articles dedicated to e-bike (electric bicycle) trails.

In contrast to the Euganean Hills Ring presented above, this second route is easy and can also be cycled by occasional cyclists. In addition, we would like to remind you that Hotel Tritone guests can rent electric bikes (and not) directly from our reception and then collect and deliver them at the hotel.

If you let yourself be guided by the handy application, which proposes various routes, you will discover a magical and welcoming world, just a few steps from the hotel.

Tour of the Sanctuaries: the stages

This ring winds its way through the area in the form of cycle paths and dirt roads and includes the north-eastern area of the Euganean Hills. There are some religious buildings here that are worthy of a stop and, if possible, a visit.

The first religious building you come across after leaving Abano Terme is the Abbey of Praglia, to which we have already dedicated an in-depth study. The imposing staircase invites people to enter this place of peace nestled against the undulating slopes of the hills. Inside, you will find the remote cloisters, an ancient library and the shop  with the monks’ products.

Resuming the journey and pedalling through the hills we reach the church of Tramonte, built at such a height as to offer a unique panorama, which at the bottom also includes the Praglia Abbey visited earlier. Built in the Middle Ages, the church of Tramonte contains some important works from this period.

The third stop is the villa dei Vescovi in Luvignano, which dates back to 1500 and was built at the time to offer summer hospitality to the bishops of Padua. Its imposing façade, built in the pre-Palladian Renaissance style, will tempt you to make another stop: let yourself be tempted and you will be rewarded by superb frescoed rooms and a delicious garden.

Continuing to follow the route of this loop, we reach the monastery of San Daniele, another name that does not appear for the first time in this blog. And there is more than one reason: first of all, the panorama that can be enjoyed from its gardens is one of the most evocative in the Euganean Hills. Secondly, the church designed by Palladian architect Francesco Muttoni is also worth a visit.

Back on the bike, we pedal again to reach the fifth and final spiritual stage of this tour: the sanctuary of Monteortone. It is said that here a soldier healed his wounds with miraculous water from a nearby grotto and that the Madonna della Salute put an end to the epidemic that struck Padua in the 15th century.

From here you return to Abano, enriched by the sight of exceptional views and the discovery of stories with deep meaning, to be treasured for the rest of your stay and beyond.

To explore the Euganean Hills and book your next stay at Hotel Tritone, you can write here or call (+39) 049 8668099