After the Padova Marathon: Arquà Petrarca and the Colli Euganei

The Route: Padova → Monselice → Arquà Petrarca → Monselice → Padova Logistics: A regional train to Monselice, then a short taxi ride or a local bus into the hills. A hire car makes the day simpler. Marathon Month: April Duration: Day trip

Padova ──(15-30 mins regional train)──> Monselice ──(taxi or local bus, a few km)──> Arquà Petrarca
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   └──────────────────────────(same route back via Monselice)────────────────────────────┘

The Padova Marathon passes the foothills of the Colli Euganei but does not climb them. The Monday after the race, those hills are a short trip south, and they are a gentler place to put tired legs than the city. The Euganean Hills are a cluster of small volcanic cones rising out of the Veneto plain, and the villages on their slopes are among the quietest places within reach of Padova. Check the train timetable at trenitalia.com, and check the opening days of anything you plan to enter, because many Italian museums close on Mondays.

April in the Colli Euganei: the hills are green in spring, and the fruit trees and wild flowers are coming into bloom. The weather can be cool and damp, and the paths can be muddy after rain. Bring a layer and shoes with grip.

Getting there

Trains on the Padova to Bologna line reach Monselice in 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the service. The village of Arquà Petrarca is a few kilometres into the hills. Public transport to it is limited, so a taxi from the station or a hire car is more reliable than waiting for a bus. A summer-season bus has linked Arquà Petrarca with the spa town of Montegrotto Terme; check whether it runs in April.

Arquà Petrarca

The village is a cluster of medieval stone houses on a slope, listed among the most beautiful villages of Italy. The poet Francesco Petrarca spent his last years here and died in 1374. His house is now a small museum, and his tomb stands in the square outside the church. The streets are narrow and steep with uneven paving, so go slowly and take short sections. Check the museum's opening days and hours before travelling.

The village sits on a slope, so even a short walk has some climbing. The best idea is to wander a flat loop around the centre and sit at a café.

Monselice

Monselice has a path, the Via del Santuario, that climbs past seven small churches towards a castle. The route is a staircase of steps and not suitable for tired legs, so look at it from the bottom. The town centre at the foot of the hill is flat.

Going back

Check the time of the last train from Monselice and book a taxi back to the station in advance if you are not driving.