Less than an hour by train from Venice, Montegrotto Terme, now almost merged with nearby AbanoTerme is part of the Euganean thermal zone, where waters from the Lessini Mountains in the foothills of the Alps emerge at 87º C full of minerals and salts, having been on a high- temperature, high-pressure 80km journey at depths of 2000-3000 meters.
The Euganean Hills Regional Park gives Montegrotto its dramatic backdrop, turning it into a haven for health and well-being amidst green landscapes, breathtaking views, sumptuous villas and impressive castles. Visitors will enjoy walking and cycling trough the nearby hills after a relaxing thermal experience in it numerous space centre, all housed in its more than thirty hotels, so guests can enjoy the therapeutic waters and muds without leaving the comfort of their lodging.
The name Montegrotto comes from the descriptive Latin noum Mons Aegrotorum, meaning “mountain of sick people”, and gives an indication of its popularity for centuries. The curative properties of its mineral springs were already known as early as in the Iron Age.
According to archaeological records, between the late 8th and 3rd century BC there was an ancient lakeside sanctuary right here, in the area between Monte Castello and Colle Montagnone. It was originated from a pool of thermal water., with sulfur fumes coming out. The waters were considered divine because of its properties, and visitors offered numerous votive offering (“ex voto”), miniature sculptures representing parts of the human body to the gods in thanks for the cures they received from the healing waters.Many offering were given to the deity Aponus (“who takes away the pain”), evidencing the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties of the thermal water and mud, which is still studied and highly prized today.
In Roman times Montegrotto became an important thermal centre.The great Roman physicians encouraged the use of the spa and Hippocrates himself praised the virtues of hot springs. Near the main street, in the Via degli Scavi, the remains of the original Roman bathing complex (Terme Romanae) can be seen – three interconnected pools and a small theatre, showing how well the Romans exploited the thermal waters.
Montegrotto hyperthermal water flow from the Euganean hills at 86ºC temperature.There are two types: sodium-chlorinated water and saline-bromide-iodine water. Waters are used in different thermal treatments around the many spa centre in Montegrotto and are an essential element in the preparation of its famous muds
Montegrotto is specially renowned today for its thermal muds, which are used for a variety of preventative and curative applications, and are particularly prized for relieving pain associated with osteoarticular diseases (rheumatism, arthritis and osteoporosis). The preparation of the thermal mud takes several months, during which the mud is “matured” by combining three elements – solid or land (natural clay) – hydromineral (thermal water) and biological (micro-organisms and biomaterials). The resulting spa product is the only one to have been given a European patent, and is ranked in the highest classifications by the Ministry of Health.
In the thermal resorts annexed to every Hotel Spa in Abano Montegrotto, Thermal Medicine is adopted – through the application of thermal mud and thermal water – for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of disorders, including arthrosis, osteoporosis, rheumatism, primary inflammatory processes, rehabilitation following bone fracture, traumatic lesions or orthopaedic surgery. The healing properties of thermal water are applied in various respiratory disorders. All these thermal cures are performed under the supervision and responsibility of specialist physicians and highly qualified personnel. Abano Montegrotto are the only spas with a European patent pending on the ripening process of thermal mud.