Are you a wine lover? Do you like to discover new tastes while sipping a nice glass of white or red? Do you enjoy to end up a dinner with a sweet touch of dessert wine? Or …do you indulge meditation?
Here several good reasons to visit the Euganean Hills, to get acquainted with the local wines, starting from the typical Fior d’Arancio, a very golden Moscato to a variety of whites with the typical straw-yellow color and jasmine scent, The hills produce Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon reds, the Chardonnay, , the Merlot, to my fav, the sparkling Serprino
Where to stay
Abano Ritz Hotel
Abano Terme is famous worldwide as the “Thermal Baths of Venice”, thanks to the extraordinary curative qualities of the thermal water and the bio-thermal clay or aged mud: a true medicine without side effects. At AbanoRitz boasts two swimming pools, the SPA, wellness rituals and culinary experiences at our 3 restaurants; immersed in a territory that offers a wealth of culture and folklore, as well as golfing and other sports. 
Where to eat
Antica Trattoria Taparo in Torreglia, since 1921.
Not to be missed the ‘baccalà itinerary’ stockfish cooked in 3 different ways.
Al Sasso in Teolo, celebrated for his one and only fried chicken, which (unfortunately ) I could not try… Instead I had an elaborate pasta dish, tagliolini with morchella mushrooms and snails.
What to visit
Villa Barberigo, Valsanzibio. A sumptuous residence dated 1600, so spectacular that has been renamed the little Versailles. Get lost in the amazing labyrinth garden.
Cini Castle, Sanctuary of the Seven Churches and Villa Duodo in Monselice
At the foot of the Colle della Rocca there rises an imposing architectural complex called Castello Cini, which incorporates several diverse types of building. 
From the XI to the XVI centuries the castle has changed from a luxurious residence, to defensive tower to become a Venetian villa. The Council Hall with frescoes and wooden stalls on the walls,
the room Jacopino with bevelled fireplace and kitchen with a rich collection of tools in the medieval and Renaissance Romanesque House;
the Armory, a precious room with frescos walls and the Carrara motif of red and white checkerboard which contains one of the most important collections of arms and armours in Italy.
Photo Enrico Paggiaro
Located in Battaglia Terme, close to Padua, with 360 rooms, decorated by the amazing GianBattista Zenotti’s frescos, this castle is considered among the most unusual of the Villas in Veneto, it has served as a mansion, ducal palace and imperial residence. conceived in 1570 by the wealthy Obizzi family as
theatre to receive and amuse their guest.
Glamorous balls, sea battle scenes, huge theatrical productions…in a way hey were one of the greatest party planners of all ages.
Photo Art New Media
Where to stop
Arquà Petrarca one of the most beautiful Italian burg, included on the prestigious list of Parchi Letterari Italiani (Italian Literary Parks), those locations that where celebrated in the italian and international literature by famous authors. The quiet and enchanting beauty of the Euganean Hills has been an iinspiration for writers, poets and artists, Bruce Chatwin, Shelley, Byron, and Foscolo, narrates theses inspiring places that vibrate of beauty, passion, and poetry. Unique colors, flavors and scents bring to the attention of environmental oases, ancient abbeys, castles, villas, country retreats and other excellent stages.
Visit the village where the iconic poet Francesco Petrarca Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374) lived and the house that hosted his final days.
This Literary Park take you to a journey through an itinerary identified by 11 plaques t
hat portray sentences from different authors who immortalized the landscape and its heritage.
For more info
parco petrarca e dei colli euganei
c.baldin@confpd.it
Let’s…finally toast!
On the panoramic outdoor of the Villa Beatrice, 
a former Convent founded in12th century, on the top of the hill, we tried the Quota 101 wines, I loved the Malterreno an authentic expression of the Euganei territory. Authentic and true. The grapes are hand-picked in September, when the sun has made them nice and ripe. Warm yellow color, scent of Summer, in the mouth it is velvety and well-structured.
Next stop at Paolo Brunello’s Cantina Vignale di Cecilia, located in Baone.
My fav was the white Val di Spie, an experimental trip in the world of sparkling wine, blinks its eye to the traditional natural fermentation in the bottle, while maintaining its natural yeasts, followed by the first born at Vignale, the red Passacaglia made with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera boasting a long maceration as well as the handmade mixing of fermenting grapes.
In the evening I met with lovely Elisa Dilavanzo, owner of Maeli Colli Euganei featuring the yellow muscat
from these amazing volcanic hills, 
where Elisa decided to “work towards the production of a wine that is rich in emotion whilst at the same time a worthy ambassador for this prestigious territory”.
Sparklyn Moscato Giallo IGT
Muscat 85% Chardonnay 15% Destemming and soft pressing, maceration on the skins for three days, pressing, fermentation on natural yeasts without added sulphites. 
The wine is bottled on its own yeasts with in-the-bottle secondary fermentation using the original must following the time-honoured method.
Grand finale with a wide varIety of Zanovello wines, hosted by Mr. Franco Zanovello, President of La Strada del Vino and owner of Cà Lustra wines. I ended my journey with the iconic Passito, born in the year 1200. Only in the Euganean Hills that the 100% Fiori d’Arancio muscat grapes keep that strong Mediterranean character, cheerful and vigorous.
Intense aromas, thick and colorful skin, crunchy pulp,are the hallmarks of this archaic variety that likes bright and dry sites. It’s a farmer’s tradition to harvest the ripest grapes and let them dry on racks in the old barns with the dual aim of producing a strong sweet wine and rustic cakes for the spring-winter festivals. Its intensity and complexity allow it to enter the category of “meditation wine.”
Believe me, no many other places on earth would enrich a meditation time
like being on the top of one of the volcanic Euganean Hills,
specially after sipping a glass of a delicious volcanic wine…
Monselice, the Cini Castle,
Villa Duomo and the Seven Churches street
Dinner at Al Sasso in Teolo
Sunday Another castle , in Lispida , hosting the Volcanic Wines event
Sunday
Visit Castello Catajo, monumental palazzo hosting the Obizzi family.
Affrescos and room, outodoor , garden
nontouristytourist.com 