eolo. Places of intensely captivating ancient culture.

Transcription

1 eolo. Places of intensely captivating ancient culture.

2 Places of intensely captivating ancient culture. Situated in a position straddling the hills that dominated the route that passed by the fons Aponi to link Padua to Este, Teolo has since ancient times been chosen as a pleasant place to live thanks to the salubriousness of its air and its easily defended position. Evidence of paleovenetian settlements have been found from Castelnuovo all the way to Monte Rosso. In 1837, along the way to Castelnuovo, a border marking stone laid in the 2nd century BC by the Roman proconsul A.C. Metello was rediscovered. The function of the stone was to define the exact border between the territory of Patavium and that of Ateste, it is from the Latin term for this titulus (= border) that the name Teolo is derived. Over the course of the centuries the name mutated and appears in various manuscripts as Tetholo, Tedolo, Theolo, and is finally recorded as Teolo in papers relating to the the bishop s pastoral visit in The fact that the area was the cause of some conflict between the two communities demonstrates that the desirability of this land was already felt in ancient times. When the Romans settled permanently in the Padua area they connected the flatlands to the hills with the strada Montanara or Mountain road, today the strada dei Colli or Hills road. During the Lombardic era one of the most important agricultural estates in the Padua area was instituted in the present day hamlet of Villa. During the Middle Ages Titulo was an important strategic centre in the Euganean Hills: from the start various fortified structures were built there, such as the castle at Castelnuovo and that on Roccapendice, and numerous monasteries, including the beautiful and still active abbey complex in Praglia. In the 13th century it became the seat of the ruling Podesteria (a district administered by a Podestà), and later that of a Vicarage. The Vicarage seat was in the palazzo now called Palazzetto dei Vicari, built in the 16th century, which is today home to the Museo di Arte Contemporanea Dino Formaggio (contemporary art museum) and the tourist office. In 1405 with the fall of the ruling Da Carrara family, Teolo followed the fate of the rest of the Padua area and became part of the territory ruled by the Most Serene Republic of Venice (Repubblica Serenissima di Venezia, often referred to simply as the Serenissima ). The possessions of the Padua nobility were put to auction and bought by the aristocratic families of Venice. It was during the four centuries of Venetian dominion that Teolo became populated with a wealth of splendid villas. At the beginning of the 1800s, following the fall of the Republic of Venice, Teolo s importance diminished under the new Napoleonic order, but it did however remain the district centre. It was only in 1862, under Austrian rule, that Teolo lost its Police Station and District Court. The municipal seat was transferred to the venerable Villa Revese in Treponti in the plains, and the borders that were re-drawn were for the most part similar to the present day divisions. Today the Teolo territory covers a large area, about 31 square kilometres (it is one of the largest territories in the Province) and has a population of almost 9000 divided over 12 towns, some in the hills, such as Castelnuovo and Teolo, others in the plains such as Villa, Treponti, Bresseo, Praglia, San Biagio, San Benedetto, Feriole, Monterosso, Tramonte, and Monteortone. 1 Panorama of Teolo Alto. 2 Area below Rocca Pendice. 3 Palazzetto dei Vicari. 4 Panorama of the Euganean Hills.

3 In the Euganean Hills Regional Park with the nearby spas. A large part of the Teolo territory is situated within the Parco Regionale dei Colli Euganei (Euganean Hills Regional Park) set up in 1989 to protect and safeguard an unusual area of over 20,000 hectares characterised by a around a hundred hills with their characteristic cone shape, which create a skyline of soft contours. The unusual shape of these hills is the result of underwater volcanic activity over 35 million years ago, which caused magma to burst through the earth s crust. As far as concerns nature, the Hills offer an incomparable variety of vegetation. The morphology of the rocks, and especially the microclimate, allow the combined presence and alternation of typical Mediterranean maquis species (above all on the southern slopes) with other species of mixed vegetation (chestnut, manna ash, common hornbeam, and oak), alternating with fruit orchards, olive groves, vineyards and vegetable gardens. The highest peak is monte Venda with its 601 metres, it was for many years the site of one of the most important bases of the Air Force, and it has been easily identifiable for years due to the large RAI (Italian state tv/radio) relay aerial that adds its own 160 metres to the top of the hill. Teolo is also part of one of the oldest and most renowned European thermal basins, the Terme Euganee. Together with Abano, Montegrotto, Galzignano, and Battaglia, it is able to offer an almost unique combination of relaxation and spa treatments based on traditional mud-therapy as well as on the most recent and innovative forms of wellness treatments, thanks to the spa hotels present in nearby Monteortone. The tourist opportunities offered by Teolo are many and varied, it is possible to choose between a relaxing sojourn at a thermal spa or a more active kind of holiday, thanks to the network of footpaths and cycle routes, a holiday of relaxation in direct contact with nature, or simply enjoy a restorative week-end in one of the wellness centres, or follow one of the wine and food routes exploring wineries, farm-hotels, restaurants and trattorias, where you can discover the tasty products of the Euganean territory. Environmental Quality. 4 In 2009, Teolo was amongst the first Italian municipalities to earn EMAS environmental certification in recognition of its qualitative standards and the correct environmental management of its territory. This is seen not only as an achievement, but a commitment to ensure a higher quality of life for its citizens in the future, and that the experience for tourists and visitors to the area is ever more enjoyable.

4 Cultural routes: museums, villas, and sacred sites. The Palazzetto dei Vicari stands in the centre of Teolo. It was built in the 1300s and enlarged in the 16th century to provide accommodation for the Vicars, Paduan nobility nominated by the Republic of Venice with administrative and military obligations during the era of Venetian dominion. The building sports a loggia and a clock tower (the mechanism dates back to 1543) and is today the home of the Museo di Arte Contemporanea, (museum of contemporary art) named in honour of Dino Formaggio, the world famous philosopher and art critic. In the higher part of Teolo stands the Pieve di S. Giustina (parish church of St. Justine), which was cited in the papal tithes of Inscriptions inside the church, reported by Salomonio, demonstrate that it was repaired in 1290 and finished in On 5th April , work started on the bell tower. From here a road climbs upwards, crossing the Parco Lieta Carraresi (nature reserve), a woodland area protected for its panoramic and natural value, until it reaches the monte della Madonna (mount of the Madonna), on top of which stands the santuario della Madonna del Monte (sanctuary), built in 1510 near a 12th century hermitage and entrusted to the Benedictine monks of the abbey in Praglia. On the southern slopes of Monte della Madonna, is the Oratorio di S.Antonio Abate (oratory of St Anthony the Abbot). A local legend has it that St Felicity hid in a cave here where she had a vision; her body is venerated in the basilica di Santa Giustina (St Justine basilica) in Padua. As well as the cave there is a small church dedicated to S. Antonio Abate (St Anthony the Abbot); which in centuries past had a hermitage added to it. It belonged to the monks of Santa Giustina (St Justine), and the coat of arms above the door is a reminder of this. A visit to the ruins of the Monastero degli Olivetani (monastery) on the hill of Monte Venda (mount) is particularly striking. Devoted since the 12th century to meditation and as a place for hermits, it reached the height of its splendour with the monks of the Order of Saint Benedict, followed by the Olivetani monks. The monastery was closed down in 1771 by order of the Republic of Venice. The Oratorio della Croce (Oratory of the Crucifix ) in Villa di Teolo is home to an ancient poplar wood crucifix to the right of the main altar which dates back to between 1500 and 1600, and was inspired by the Donatello school Palazzetto dei Vicari, and the D. Formaggio Museum of Contemporary Art. 2 Oratorio di S. Antonio Abate on Monte Madonna. 3 Cloister of the sanctuary on Monte della Madonna. 4 Ruins of the Olivetani monastery on Monte Venda. 4

5 At Bresseo the beautiful Villa Cavalli constitutes, as is the case of many Venetian villas, the urban hub of the locality, the raison d être of the town - says Brunelli. Built in the 17th century by the Cavalli family, an aristocratic family of Bavarian origin, which on war merits (Giacomo Cavalli had been a capable military leader) had been associated with the Venetian nobility since The villa is composed of a simple central nucleus flanked by two long barchesse wings at the ends of which the guest houses are placed perpendicularly to the main building, one of which houses the oratory. Large scowling masks look down from above the left hand arches, their crude manufacture is 17th century, in contrast to the well sculpted 18th century smiling masks, representing the two faces to 6 life. In the pastoral visit of 1747 the oratory is referred to as being present in the Bresseo area with the name Maternità di Maria Vergine (maternity of the Virgin Mary) belonging to the Venetian nobleman Giacomo Cavalli, and where service/mass was held daily. It was built by Jacopo Cavalli in about 1740 (Brunelli, 1931). The villa was inherited by the Giustinian family in the 18th century, and then passed to the Forti who were bankers, and then to the Lugli family; today it is owned by the Malandrin. The Abbazia di S. Maria di Praglia (St Mary abbey, Praglia), founded in the 11th century at the foot of Monte Lonzina (mount), was, for the whole of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the stronghold of the Benedictine order s agricultural colonisation throughout the territory west of Padua. The impressive complex includes the church, built between 1490 and 1550, probably to plans drawn up by Tullio Lombardo, and the monastery, which boasts a pretty upper level cloister from the late 1400s, a botanic cloister, a rustic cloister, double cloisters surrounded by the monks cells, the delightful sala del Capitolo room, the library, and the monumental refectory. The abbey is universally recognised for the important work the monks themselves do in restoring old books and illuminated codexes. The country church dedicated to St Benedict, San Benedetto delle Selve, was built in 1304 by abbot Mauro of Praglia, for the country folk who were at that time spreading across the lands being reclaimed. For centuries the church s services were irregularly officiated 5 by the Tramonte parish priest or by the monks. In 1646 abbot Luigi Righi had it restored and had the presbytery built, creating on one side a small sacristy and a belfry on the other. In 1714 Angelo M. Noli a monk of Praglia had the altar erected, it is made from Costozza marble with polychrome marble 7 panels. The ownership of the church passed from hand to hand at the mercy of events involving the surrounding agrarian assets that had once belonged to the monks but were expropriated under Napoleonic rule (1806). In the end the building was bought in 1939 by Giusto Zanon, owner of a building business, who returned it to the Benedictines in the same year. 5 Villa delle Rose - Tramonte. 6 Villa Cavalli - Bresseo. 7 Oratorio della Croce in Villa di Teolo. 8 The abbey in Praglia. 8

6 Nature routes. 9 In the hamlet of Tramonte, where the castle of the Maltraversi once stood, stands the church dedicated to St George, Chiesa di San Giorgio, this ancient building contains frescoes dating back to around the year Here you can also see the Villa delle Rose, 10 an elegant palazzo that reflects the grace and proportions of 18th century architecture. This oasis belonged to the Rosa family in the 18th century, but had previously belonged to a family that had produced more military men than abbots, the Camposampiero, one of the most illustrious dynasties of the Padua territory. The palazzo is crowned by a crenelated border and a pediment whose tympanum bears the Rosa coat of arms, a red rose in a field of gold, and holds 5 admirable statues. The villa has an especially attractive variety of elegant wrought iron work by an unknown, but certainly no ordinary, craftsman. Today a number of paintings, engravings, and drawings are kept in the villa - including a number of works by Piazzetta - and also four wood carved putti attributed to Andrea Brustolon. A number of beautiful nature trails start in the Teolo area, signposted by the Euganean Hills regional park, they are ideal routes for people who love walking in the countryside: the Monte Grande path (trail No 14), the Monte della Madonna path (No 17) includes a trip to two old religious sites: the small oratorio di S. Antonio Abate (oratory of Saint Anthony the Abbot) datable to the 14th century; and the Madonna sanctuary with its small Benedictine monastery. The Monte Venda path (No 9), the Monte Venda - G. G. Lorenzoni path (No 4), the Monte Rosso path (No 16), and the as yet incomplete Monteortone path. Another path that starts in the Teolo area (more precisely from Villa) is the Alta Via dei Colli Euganei (High route of the Euganean Hills), this is a hike that covers over 40 kilometres, climbs 2000 metres, and crosses the most important peaks in the territory of the regional park. For those who prefer to explore the history of the Abbazia di Praglia (Praglia Abbey), we suggest the Del Giubileo path: a 4.5 km circular trail that starts in the abbey s car park and climbs between the green of the hills Delle 9 Detail of the church in Castelnuovo. 10 The bell tower of the church in Castelnuovo. 11 View of Palazzetto dei Vicari. 12 The church in Teolo Alto Are and Lonzina. Informative material about each of the Park s trails is available from the Regional Park information points, and tourist information offices.

7 Sports routes. For an all round exploration of the territory s nature, history and culture we suggest another more energetic approach. Mountain biking, hiking and horse riding are all valid alternatives. An unusual sporting event that has become an annual event is the World Downhill (end of July - beginning of August), where athletes from all over the world launch themselves on skates or skateboards down the tried and tested 1600 metre route from Castelnuovo to Teolo. Recently the practice of orienteering, on foot 13 or with mountain bikes, has once again become popular in the Teolo area. For climbing enthusiasts Teolo offers a natural training rock face on Rocca Pendice, recently acquired by the Euganean Hills Park Authority. It is a cliff of volcanic rock, a 130 metre high vein of trachyte, which in the spring plays host to the CAI s (Italian Alpine Club) mountaineering courses. Golf is another sport that is much enjoyed in the Euganean Hills area. There are 3 excellent courses: the Golf Club Padova in Galzignano, the Golf House Spa Frassanelle and the Montecchia. For horse riding enthusiasts there is a wealth of choice: trekking routes cross the whole of the regional park s territory, which has various stables equipped for both beginners and experienced riders. Food and wine routes. Given its climatic properties, the area offers wine and food routes that exalt the traditional Venetian cuisine and grape and winegrowing. A good thirteen types of DOC wine are cultivated in the Euganean Hills, including Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Serprino, and Moscato Fior d Arancio. Amongst the traditional products we can find oil, honey, various types of cheese, and seasonal fruit such as sweet chestnuts, cherries, peas, and jujubes. Typical local dishes that will delight your palate are the bigoli (a kind of thick spaghetti), and gnocchi garnished with excellent sauces such as chicken or duck ragouts, and the risottos with wild herbs and wild mushrooms from the hills. 15 Traditional events. 16 April - Sagra del Gnocco (Gnocchi festival) April - Primavera a Tramonte (Spring in Tramonte) August - Festa del Villeggiante (Holiday makers festival) October - Antica Fiera di Bresseo (Old fair of Bresseo) October - Sagra dei Maroni (Sweet Chestnut festival) with roast chestnut tasting The training rock face, Rocca Pendice. 14 The Downhill sports event. 15 The gnocchi festival in Teolo. 16 Supper under the stars Piazzetta Tito Livio in Teolo Alto.

8 Tourist Information Teolo Palazzetto dei Vicari Via Marconi, 1 Tel Seasonal opening: from April to October Fri. from to Sat and Sun* from to 12.30; from to Teolo Town Hall Via Euganea Treponti 34 Tel fax Museum of Contemporary Art D. Formaggio Palazzetto dei Vicari Via Marconi, 1 Tel museo.teolo@comune.teolo.pd.it Seasonal opening: from April to October Fri. from to Sat and Sun* from to 12.30; from to Useful numbers Town Hall Tel Town Police Tel Teolo Tourist Office Tel Museum of Contemporary Art D. Formaggio Tel Public Library Tel Teolo School Authorities Tel Cultural Events Office Teolo Tel Teolo Civil Defence Tel motorway TOWNS TREVISO AIRPORT How to get here Aeroplane: the nearest airport is Venice (47 km) followed by Treviso (70 km) and Verona (80 km) By car: from the north from the Milano-Venezia (Milan Venice) motorway exit at Padova Ovest (Padua West) (corso Australia) until reaching the turn off for the Colli Euganei (Euganean Hills). Follow the main road Provinciale 89 - Padova - Teolo; from the south from the Padova (Padua) - Bologna motorway exit at Terme Euganee and take the main road SS Adriatica towards Padova, then follow the signs to Montegrotto and to Teolo. By train: get off at Terme Euganee at Montegrotto, or at Padova (Padua) and take the Teolo - Valbona bus. Teolo is 20 Km from Padua. Geographical information: Altitude: 175 m Territory area: km Population: 8949 EUGANEAN HILLS DIRECTION MILANO VERONA AIRPORT MOTORWAY A4 MOTORWAY A13 DIRECTION BOLOGNA DIRECTION TRIESTE MOTORWAY A4 VENEZIA AIRPORT Tel Fax Produced in partnership with: Comune Teolo December 2010 Photographs: Padua Terme Euganee Tourism Archive/A. Mazzetti, M. Danesin, C. Gibellato, L. Tomasin; Municipality of Padua, Photographic Studio of the Eremitani Civic Museum, Teolo Municipal Archives, and Teolo Pro Loco Archives.