FIRST DAY
The tour sets off from Este, and on e-bikes moves on to Montagnana, a small medieval village surrounded by two-kilometer walls which are among the best preserved in the whole of Europe. Here you can visit the sixteenth century duomo (cathedral), the archeological museum, and the mastio – the castle tower from which you can have a full panoramic view of the surrounding territory and marvel at this cinematographic backdrop. Afterwards, you can taste the famous “Prosciutto Veneto Berico Euganeo DOP”, known worldwide for its singular sweetness, accompanied by wines from the hills. The day wraps up with a pleasant ride through the countryside back to Este.
SECOND DAY
The second day will be dedicated to Monselice, a town that developed as a military outpost and extends at the foot of the hill which it defended. A short cobbled climb leads to a majestic door that introduces us inside the castle. The castle was built in different centuries. The most ancient is the Romanic house (11th century), the Castelletto (little castle) of the 12th century, the Tower of Ezzelino (13th century), and the Venetian Villa. All these are found in one building surrounded by a huge park. The rooms are furnished with original paintings and artifacts from the time they represent. A pleasant stop at the restaurant in the center allows you to discover the best of local cuisine. A few kilometers from Monselice is the medieval town of Arquà Petrarca, an ancient village located on a hill, where you can visit the house of Petrarch, where the poet lived until his death.
THIRD DAY
On the third day, the route will lead us to Este. Inside the castle there is an awesome castle, and the National Archeological Museum (Museo Atestino), with important finds from the 1st millennium BC. In the nineteenth-century-style center there are many locations where you can taste typical dishes accompanied by the prestigious wines of the Euganean Hills such as Moscato Fiori d’arancio DOCG, Il Sterpino, Cabernet, Merlot (which are the main four grape varieties you can find in this area).
Three days on a journey back in time that embraces 2000 years of Venetian history, accompanied by tastings of high quality products which are hard to be found on the international market.
