Montegrotto Terme, a paradise to obtain wellness

The Venetian city of Montegrotto Terme has been one of Italy's historic healing destinations for more than 3,000 years.

The name itself derives from the ancient Roman toponym of "Mons Aegrottorum” which means Monte dei Malati. It makes reference to the therapeutic properties of its waters which flow hot from the underground around Montegrotto Terme and throughout the territory of the Coli Euganei.

Wellness in Montegrotto Terme that includes muds and healing waters

The history of Montegrotto Terme is inextricably linked to that of its hot water which is renowned for its therapeutic propertie and which flows abundantly from its subsoil.

This is a natural phenomenon due to the particular geological conformation of the Euganean Hills. It is simply the summit of magmatic bastions that were formed around 35 million years ago when the surfaced sediments swelled to the earth's surface, and solidified. They generated a sort of barrier for the groundwater that flows at great depths.

The water is therefore heated, and makes its way towards the surface. It is collected in the wells of the thermal establishments where it reaches 87 ° C.

Without a doubt, the most valuable element of the territory, as well as the main tourist resource of Montegrotto Terme and the Euganean Hills is its mud. That's right! Is is collected from the surrounding areas and is let to matured in special tanks where it remains in contact with the thermal water until the process is complete. During this period, chemical-physical and biological reactions are triggered by a special type of algae called "diatoms", which produces substances that have anti-inflammatory and pain-relief properties. These elements are essential for therapeutic benefits.

All of the hotels that make up the Montegrotto Terme spa center take part in Osservatoria Termale Permanente dell'Università di Padova. They make up a monitoring network for the quality control and the thermal mud maturation process.

The Terme di Montegrotto are well known for the  services that are offered which guarantee a complete range of the best in the business in terms of treatments and thermal tourism.

The strong point of Montegrotto Terme? Combining the health effects of therapeutic sources with the pleasure of a traditional holiday which, by choice, offers  the sea, the mountains and hills.

The Euganean Spas -  with their ancient and suggestive atmosphere -  offer a holiday  that consists of absolute relaxation and well-being: thermal baths, golf matches, horseback riding, and mud therapy sessions which are the oldest among all thermal treatments.  These spas represent the excellence of a range of proposals and hospitality that satisfy every need.

It is here, in fact, that the thermal tradition of the ancient Romans meets the vanguard of the most appreciated spa therapies in the world available to thousands of Italian and foreigners every year.

The Montegrotto Terme are located a few kilometers away from Padua. The area is therefore the largest thermal basin in Europe. It offers a total of 148  different hotels and spas that guarantee one’s maximum well-being.

These thermal treatments over years can truly benefit the bones, muscles and joints. In the rheumatology field, specifically, these therapeutic treatments that include baths and hot muds of Montegrotto Terme find major medical benefits: osteoporosis, rheumatism, traumatic lesions and sequelae of fractures; orthopedic interventions, gout and primary inflammatory states benefit the most.

Furthermore, the introduction of hot thermal water into the ear-nose-throat system and into the respiratory tract restores the area and also has a preventive function.

Montegrotto Terme between history and archeology: what to see

There is a portion of this territory which is particularly rich in natural, artistic and cultural beauties.  The Monegrotto Terme springs are included in the Natural Park of the Veneto Region; "Euganean Hills", where, in addition to the thermal treatments available, it is also possible to practice interesting excursions and walks to discover the beauty which is typical in this area of Italy.

Since the second millennium BC, lush woods covered the plain from which the peaks of the hills emerged, emanating their steamtìy vapors and generating warm water mirrors.

The native population of the Euganei was succeeded by the Venetians in the first century BC. They arrived from Illyria and already knew about the therapeutic properties of the warm waters of these places. They attributed these powers to a divine origin. Small sculptures are conserved  from that time which represent parts of the human body, real ex votos. They are a testimony of particular gratitude from the sick which were recovered from the sacred waters of the votive lakes.

At the center of the old part of Montegrotto Terme stands the Church of Saints Peter and Eliseus and the Oratory of the Madonna with its beautiful Romanesque bell tower which was built on pre-existing medieval fortifications.

Not far from the top of the hill, the archaeological area of the Republican and Augustan age extends: the excavations took place during the first half of the 1900s and gave birth to the remains of a thermal complex containing three diving tanks of various shapes, as well as a duct system articulated with ducts, drains and settling wells. Near the thermal complex you will fins a small First Century theater and a nymphaeum.

Near Monte Ceva which is also located in the Municipality of Montegrotto Terme - stands a stately villa that is now considered part of the local cultural heritage: Villa Draghi.

Its construction dates back to the 1700s. It was owned by various families and the remains of the ancient noble garden -  which preserves unusual plants for that type of environment -  are still visible all around the building.

A definite must-see is the Butterfly Arc: it is the first exhibition of "live" butterflies in Italy. The most beautiful and largest specimens in the world fly freely amongst the plants and flowers in three tropical gardens: the Amazonian, the Indo-Australian, and the African.

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