The Euganean Hills rise abruptly from the flat plain south-west of Padua, a cluster of volcanic cones covered in vineyards, chestnut woods and olive groves. Arquà Petrarca, a medieval village on the southern slopes, is where the poet Petrarch spent his last years and died in 1374; his house can still be visited. Close by, in a small hollow between the hills, lies the Laghetto della Costa, a tiny lake that hides a big secret.
In the mud at the bottom of the lake, archaeologists found the remains of a Bronze Age pile-dwelling settlement, with wooden posts, pottery and other objects preserved in the wet sediment. It is one of the sites included in the UNESCO-listed Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps, inscribed in 2011, which covers more than a hundred sites in six countries. There is little to see at the lake itself, but the setting, a quiet pond surrounded by trees and hills, is lovely, and finds from the area's prehistoric sites are displayed in regional museums such as the one at Este.
The Euganean Hills have long been known for their thermal springs. Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme, on the eastern side of the hills, are among the largest spa resorts in Europe, with hot mud and water used since Roman times. Battaglia Terme, nearby, has a castle-like villa, the Catajo, with frescoed halls. Monselice, a few kilometres away, is a town with a castle and a sanctuary on its hill.
The riding in the Euganean Hills is excellent. The roads that wind around and over the hills, through vineyards and woods, toward Teolo, Torreglia, Cinto Euganeo and Arquà, are twisty and scenic, with little traffic. The hills are small, so you can cover a lot of ground in a short time. The surfaces are generally good. The roads on the plain are flat and busy.
Monselice, about four kilometres away, has fuel and all services. Local food includes the wines of the Colli Euganei, especially the sweet Fior d'Arancio, and jujube broth, a liqueur made from jujube fruit in Arquà Petrarca. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; summer on the Venetian plain is hot and humid.