Abano.it - Abano.it - Trekking on the Euganean Hills

The starting point, where to leave the car, is Casa Marina at Sotto Venda in the town of Galzignano Terme, a rural house used as visitors centre and as the Hills’ Park lab of naturalistic education.

Start walking along the“white” road that leads to the Rifugio Re del Venda. After about 350 m take a path on the right and start going up. Along the route you’ll cross other paths (the Lorenzoni, the Monte Venda) therefore you’ll have to pay attention to the directions. The end of the path at the beginning is quite stony, but as you gradually go up and enter the woods, it becomes earthy. As you climb the vegetation becomes thicker among beeches, chestnut trees, robinias and elders.

In the more humid areas of the undergrowth you can observe some salamanders, with their typically black skin dotted with yellow spots, or some small and harmless
slowworm. In the warmer and drier areas you can find

the surely bigger black columber, locally known as “scarbonasso”.
A harmless snake that can reach the length of 1,5 m.

After about 1 km upwards at a crossroad the path takes you rapidly down from 500 m to 450 m and goes up just as rapidly. After the last short slope you'll reach the scattering of ruins from which you can enjoy a wonderful view to the South-East.

The first documents that mention the monastery date to 1197, but the founders are thought to be two Benedictine monks belonging to Santa Giustina (Padua) who in 1207 climbed the hill and, “sponsored” by some local nobles, built the lodgings and the church dedicated to San Giovanni Battista. After 1300 the monastery went to the order of the Olivetans who, under the patronage of the Carraresi family, enlarged and embellished it. In 1771 the Republic of Venice abolished the monastery by transferring the monks and therefore caused its ruin.