The Euganean Hills Regional Park
A fascinating territory, a luxuriant nature, a landscape permeated with the mysterious charm of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, a complex microcosm rich in excellence in which the pace of life seems to slow down to leave room for peace, wonder and a rediscovery of Tradition. It is here, against the backdrop of this natural work of art, that Apitaly® comes to life.
A Natural Park
The Regional Park of the Euganean Hills (the first Regional Park in the Veneto region, established in 1989) covers a hilly area of volcanic origin of around 19 thousand hectares, comprising 15 municipalities in whole or in part. The Park protects a vast and surprisingly rich territory in which more than 1400 botanical species are concentrated, equal to about 1/6 of the Italian flora.
The Euganean Hills are a group of hills of volcanic origin that rise, isolated as if they were an archipelago, in the heart of the Po-Venetian plain a few kilometres south-west of Padua (the highest and best known peak is Mount Venda at 601 m above sea level). They originated as a result of submarine eruptions with basaltic lava effusions during the Eocene, followed in the Oligocene by activity characterised by viscous magmas, which led to the formation of trachyte deposits (about 30 million years ago). The place name derives from an ancient local population of the same name from around the 10th - 3rd century B.C. ("Euganei" is supposed to derive from the Greek "of noble stock", due to the recognised beneficial properties of the thermal waters).
The peculiar geological history has made possible the formation of an extraordinary botanical and faunal biodiversity, so that, according to the nature and composition of the soil and the climatic diversity, the following types of plant associations can be identified: Mediterranean scrub, grasslands, chestnut woodland, thermophilic oak woodland, black locust woodland.
The fascinating landscape and corners of uncontaminated nature are complemented by a remarkable wealth of cultural heritage: ancient villages, medieval castles, hermitages, and refined architecture that recount centuries of history, art and tradition.
The peace of the Euganean Hills and the magic of their views have also been the inspiration and refuge of poets such as Petrarch, Foscolo, Byron and Shelley, who found here the "ideal landscape" in which to set their work. This is why the Euganean Hills have become part of the Literary Parks (Parco Letterario di Francesco Petrarca e dei Colli Euganei), the recognised network that bears the homonymous trademark, created with the aim of promoting the areas made famous by literature and poetry and their main protagonists.
As well as protecting the environment, the Park also deals with the tourist enhancement of natural resources. A dense network of footpaths and hiking trails allows you to explore the area in a sustainable way: on foot, by bicycle or on horseback you can discover the most beautiful corners of the Euganean Hills while immersing yourself in nature and practicing your favourite sport.
