The best road cycling routes around Due Carrare

Beautiful climb (especially for road bikes) that leads from the castle of Este to Calaone.

Located along the road leading up to the upper village of Arquà Petrarca, Palazzo Contarini is a refined example of 15th-century Gothic-Venetian architecture in the Euganean Hills. The building stands out for its elegant Venetian-style facade, embellished with trifora and bifora windows with trefoil arches that recall the style of the palaces of the Serenissima. Fascinating traces of ancient Renaissance frescoes that once entirely decorated its exterior surface are still visible today. Built as a country residence by one of the most illustrious Venetian patrician families of the time, the palace testifies to the close link between the nobility of Venice and the Euganean territory, often chosen as a place for holidays, rest, and meditation. Today, perfectly integrated into the historical context of the village, it represents a stop of great historical and architectural value for those visiting the town.

The boat pier in Battaglia Terme represents one of the most evocative views of the Euganean Hills' navigable system. Located along the historic waterways of the area, this landing point preserves the charm of the ancient Paduan river tradition. The structure features a characteristic jetty accompanied by a covered roof used as shelter for traditional wooden boats, such as burci or rowboats typical of inland navigation. The area is situated in a very tranquil landscape setting, flanked by a tree-lined cycle-pedestrian path and with historic Venetian residences in the background. It is an ideal stopping place for both those exploring the canals by boat and for cycle tourists travelling along the embankments.

The climb leading from Torreglia to Castelnuovo is one of the most famous, scenic, and challenging ascents in the Euganean Hills, very popular with cyclists. The route winds for about four kilometers and is characterized by an average gradient of around eight percent, but it hides very steep ramps that reach peaks close to twenty percent. The road, initially immersed among vineyards and foothill villages, climbs rapidly with severe gradients, tackling several spectacular hairpin bends. As you gain altitude, the vegetation becomes denser, regularly opening up to breathtaking panoramic views that stretch over the Padan Plain and the surrounding hills. Reaching the summit at Castelnuovo rewards cyclists' efforts with a splendid view of Monte Venda and represents a strategic junction for continuing towards other Euganean itineraries.

The Villa Barbarigo Pizzoni Ardemani in Valsanzibio di Galzignano Terme is a Baroque masterpiece from the 17th century, world-renowned for its extraordinary historic garden, considered among the most important and intact in Europe. Designed by architect Luigi Bernini, the complex was created at the behest of the noble Venetian Barbarigo family as a solemn vow to God for having escaped the terrible plague of 1631. The park is not a simple ornamental work, but a true allegorical and spiritual path of purification. The visitor is invited to experience a journey of salvation that unfolds through scenic fountains, streams, fishponds, and over seventy statues rich in symbolism. The central and iconic element of the garden is the monumental labyrinth of centuries-old boxwood, one of the oldest and largest in the world, symbolizing the difficulties and redemption of the human soul.

It is the best-known image of the very famous villa.

It is a 15th-century building in the Venetian Gothic style. The palace is located in the center of the village

The ancient Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Galzignano Terme (no longer in use) is a charming 13th-century parish church (although documents attest to the existence of a chapter as early as the year 1000) that stands in a beautiful location, perched atop the hill of the same name overlooking the town, a green, cultivated hill shaded by cypress trees. The old church, built with a single nave and five altars, was rebuilt from the ground up in 1674 with a single nave in Baroque style, and consecrated on October 4, 1840. A century later, it had become insufficient for the more than doubled population. Thus, in 1947, the cornerstone of a new parish church was blessed, no longer on the hill, but in the town square. The bell tower, rebuilt between 1878 and 1895 next to the old church, still serves the new one. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta houses traces of 17th-century frescoes and a 17th-century canvas depicting the Assumption and two saints. (Galzignano Terme municipal website)