Nature

Travelling across the venetian plain, in any direction, you'll meet with the outilne of these soft hills, telling their greenery in the distance: the Euganean Hills, one of the most orignal hilly areas in Italy: volcaninc hills, born due to underground eruptions; signs of their origin are the hot waters of Abano and Montegrotto, the Euganean spas. Gentle slopes mark these hills, the highest - Mount Venda - being just about 600 meters upon the sea level.

Arquà Petrarca is part of the Euganean Hills Regional Park - a peculiar park, either for its geological features (volcanic and sedimentary rocks can be observed here) and for its flora and fauna. The variety of plants is incredibly rich, and forms a complex natural oasis where vegetation of different environments cohabit: chestnut tree woods, mediterranean scrub, oaks and black locusts, meadows; and the cultivations of olive trees, vineyards, rosemary bushes and lavender plants. Among the animals, there are small predators, like foxes, badgers and stone martens; rodents, like dormice; worm-eating species, lke the hedgehog - the symbol of the Park. In the humid zones you can find tree frogs and newts and, in the clean fresh waters, river prawns. More then 120 bird species live here. Wild pigs still graze freely in the woods. Many pathways go through the park at different heights. From Arquà you can take the Atestino path, or the track of Mt. Calbarina and Mt. Piccolo

Many pathways go through the park at different heights. From Arquà you can take the Atestino path, or the track of Mt. Calbarina and Mt. Piccolo.

For more information log in to:

• Paths on the Euganean Hills
• Outdoord activities on the Euganean Hills
• Nature Education Centre, Euganean Hills