Montegrotto Terme

About Montegrotto Terme

Montegrotto Terme is a spa resort in the Veneto, in north-east Italy. It lies a mile and half from the centre of the more famous spa town of Abano Terme. Nowadays the two towns have grown and merged so there is little division between the two. For more information on Abano Terme and the surrounding area, visit our main page: Abano Terme.

Like Abano, Montegrotto is made up of wide leafy streets studded with hotels advertising their spa treatments.

Things to see and do

The Romans praised this spot for its thermal waters and several areas of Roman remains have been uncovered. Montegrotto Terme's archaeological zone is alongside the main street, and can be viewed from the pavement (to enter you will need to join a guided tour; ask at the tourist information office). The low walls and stones you can see include the ruins of a Roman bathing complex.

One of Montegrotto's biggest tourist attractions is Butterfly Arc, a butterfly house with tropical gardens and a 'fairy woodland'. There are some modern sculptures of coloured glass outside the town hall, and a new museum, the Museo del Vetro, featuring displays of artistic glass from Murano. This museum also contains some local archaeological finds, and is located in a farmhouse near Villa Draghi. Villa Draghi is a faded villa in parkland just outside Montegrotto, at the start of an attractive nature trail. To get to the park and the museum, take Via Castello from Piazza Roma. The museum's opening times are limited (Tues-Sun afternoons) so check at the tourist office before you set out.

Transport connections

Montegrotto Terme is a bus ride or long walk from Abano Terme, and the two towns are also connected by a seasonal little 'train' which runs along the streets. Cycling is a popular holiday activity here, and the specially-marked cycle lanes offer a healthy way to travel around.

From the busiest part of Montegrotto, where you'll find an array of shops, there are regular buses to Abano and Padua. Timetables are displayed at the bus stops and available at the helpful tourist information office; bus tickets can be purchased from a tobacconist (look for the black and white 'T' sign).

Montegrotto has a little railway station (called Terme Euganee) at the foot of the main street. There are trains into Padua and also a few direct trains to Venice (45 minutes), Bologna and other destinations in Italy.

> Hotels and B&Bs in Montegrotto Terme