MONTEGROTTO TERME – The project “Gravel in the Land of Venice” continues with the tour organized together with Slow FlowThe “Veneto Waterways Experience” included three days of cycling along the gravel trails of the Veneto region and the secrets hidden within. On the first day the departure took place in Montegrotto Terme and after a short ride, Villa dei Vescovi welcomed us. On this part of the Euganean Hills, the villas follow one another, perched on steep slopes, green balconies from which these magnificent works of art overlook.
Villa dei Vescovi
Its beauty initially disorientates the visitor who does not expect to find such a spectacle behind a remote corner, next to a small street. Villa dei Vescovi is part of the heritage of the FAI (Italian Environmental Fund). The structure dates back to 1500, even if the first construction dates back to 1077, it was the church of San Martino, then moved over the centuries.
The layout of the villa and its construction are the work of Francesco Pisani, son of the Pisani dal Banco family. The intention was to build a refuge from the life of a Bishop, in which to cultivate his passions: among the main ones were the study of Greek and Roman history. The structure of Villa dei Vescovi is in fact designed as that of a Roman domus, with a central square plan. It is a single block that rises from the hill to dominate the surrounding landscape.
Wine Museum
The gravel ride along the various paths continues on the Euganean Hills cycle path, surrounded by expanses of cultivated fields that end near the first mountainsYou arrive in Vo' Euganeo, where you can immerse yourself in the local geological history, which gave rise to vine cultivation. The Euganean Hills were formed between 43 and 33 million years ago. Through a sub-volcanic activity that leads to the birth of “cones” and “domes” of rocks: rhyolite, trachyte and latite.
The study of geology is the basis of the vine cultivation activity, which occupies 2.500 of the nearly 19.000 hectares of the Regional Park of the Euganean HillsAndrea Gianesini, secretary of the Wine Consortium, welcomes us.
«One of the considerations made when the Wine Museum – he says – it was about understanding what imprint to give it. We wanted to explain the viticulture of the Hills starting from the history that dates back to ancient timesCollaboration with the local community is important, which is why we've also opened the doors to school visits of all kinds. From elementary school children to agricultural students, who immerse themselves more in technical discourse."
The waterways
Our cycle route takes us to Este, to then arrive in Monselice where the Bisatto canal flows. Name given by the inhabitants because of its shape which resembles an eel: double-sided in the Paduan dialect. Sailing these calm waters, which were once the main communication and trade route, you reach the Conca dam. It is the second highest in Europe, which connects the Bisatto with the Bacchiglione riverAfter a few minutes of navigation, in the town of Battaglia Terme, we stop at Navigation Museum.
«A territory with a great deal of port activity – says Maurizio Uliana, president of the TVB (Traditional Venetian Boats) Association – therefore, navigation, and the main vessel is the BurcioLike all lagoon or canal boats, it has a flat bottom, as there is not enough depth to navigate with other boats. The bow rises from the bottom, a trick used by boatmen to load the hold. In fact, the boats were turned by the bow and brought closer to the shore to load the goods».
«On this type of boat – concludes Uliana, who manages the museum on behalf of the municipality of Battaglia Terme – the life of the boatmen was full, in fact it is defined as the "profession of a thousand professions". The family was also involved, of course, and each member was capable of doing everything: husband and wife were interchangeable. Over time the profession has disappeared due to technological progress, and the boatmen went to work in the factory. The Navigation Museum was born from here, from the memories of the experiences of the children of these families».
