Entering a spa garden dotted with picturesque lakes and dense trees is one of the unforgettable experiences one has when visiting Villa Selvatico. Then there is the ascent to the villa, during which, step by step, the panorama on the Euganean Hills stretches out. And finally, the rediscovery of the mythological characters that populate the frescoes inside the historic residence. Welcome to Villa Selvatico!

The nature park, all to be discovered

The 10 hectares of garden  that can be visited today are the work of the Paduan architect Giuseppe Jappelli. Starting with the already existing Italian garden, he exploited the waters of three small thermal lakes to create a real world around the villa. 

The estate extends over the area that was once the Valley and Hill of Sant’Elena, also known as the “colle della Stufa“. Its fame has long been known because of the grotto in which the thermal water gushes out, which has always been a source of benefits. And so it was that Francesco Petrarca, Duke Francis III of Modena, Michel de Montaigne, Stendhal and Heinrich Heine passed through here.

A unique panorama of the Euganean Hills: a prize after 144 steps

At the foot of the Colle di Sant’Elena is a long staircase of 144 steps in Euganean trachyte, leading to the villa. Going from the garden to the top of the hill is like starting from the “Dark Forest” to get to “Paradise”: it is both an experience and a metaphor.

Villa Selvatico: over four centuries of pure beauty

Owners, architects, painters and sculptors followed one another over this long period of time to create the villa that can be visited today. From the outside, one can appreciate the dome and the towers, a jewel in the Euganean territory. Inside, one can admire a cycle of frescoes painted in 1650 by Luca Ferrari of Reggio. The paintings illustrate the Stories of Antenore, the founder of Padua. The scenes depicted are all inspired by the Virgilian Aeneid and the Stories of Livy.

Also not to be missed is the ancient Oratory of St Helena, located in the park. It is an ancient religious architecture consisting of a 17th-century structure and a crypt dating back to 1100. 

Hotel Tritone reception staff are available to book guests a guided tour of this fascinating place.

To book your next stay at Hotel Tritone, you can write to us here or call (+39) 049 8668099