Discover Fornace Laterizi

Fornace Laterizi is a practical starting point for the easy Sentiero di Monte Ortone circular hiking trail. The municipality of Teolo lies entirely within the Parco Regionale dei Colli Euganei.

Monte Ortone and the Landscape of the Euganean Hills

Monte Ortone is a 168-metre-high rhyolite hill between Monte Rosso and Colle di San Daniele. The trail on Monte Ortone passes through Mediterranean macchia with heather, strawberry trees and privet. Near the summit, downy oaks, the first chestnut trees and spring flowers grow. The Grotta di Santa Felicita is also home to one of the highest-altitude springs in the Euganean area.

Another landscape highlight is the viewpoint traditionally known as Salto della Volpe. From there, visitors can enjoy an impressive view of the central Euganean Hills. Rocca Pendice offers a distinctly different natural and recreational setting: it is a natural trachyte rock face where sport climbing has traditionally been practised. The ruins of Speronella Castle are also located on Rocca Pendice. The peregrine falcon regularly breeds there; the area belongs to a Natura 2000 protected area with the status of a Special Protection Area for birds.

Hiking Trails in Different Formats

The Sentiero di Monte Ortone begins in Fornace Laterizi and is described as an easy circular hiking trail. The Sentiero del Giubileo begins at the car park of the Abbazia di Praglia and leads across Monte delle Are through a forest predominantly characterised by black locusts, chestnut trees, hop hornbeams and oaks. Those wishing to consider a significantly longer route can choose the Alta Via No. 1 of the Colli Euganei, an approximately 40-kilometre route with around 12 hours of walking time.

The Anello del Giubileo connects the Santuario della Madonna della Salute in Monteortone, the Monastero di San Daniele and the Abbazia di Praglia. This makes it possible to view several religious and historical destinations along a single connected route without conflating their individual significance.

Monasteries, Churches and Art

The Abbazia di Praglia is a Benedictine monastery whose history began around 1100. The complex includes four cloisters, a monumental refectory and an ordinary refectory, a basilica and an old library. The Abbazia di Praglia cannot be visited in its entirety because it is still inhabited by monks. This makes it particularly important to distinguish between a historically significant site and a tour that is fully accessible.

The Monastero di San Daniele was built between 1076 and 1078 for Benedictine monks. On Monte Venda, parts of the church, the bell tower and the crypt of the monastery dedicated to Saint John the Baptist remain visible after restoration work. The Chiesa di Sant'Antonio Abate dates from 1300 and is a preserved part of a larger Benedictine monastery. The Palazzetto dei Vicari is a historic 16th-century building in Teolo. It represents the importance of the hill village in the late Middle Ages and during Venetian rule from the 15th to the 18th century.

For an art-focused visit, the Museo Dino Formaggio preserves around 200 paintings and sculptures by approximately 87 artists from the late 19th century to the present day. Medieval frescoes have been uncovered in the Chiesa di San Giorgio; they may have been created around the year 1000.

Pilgrimage and Local Specialities

The Santuario della Madonna della Salute in Monteortone was built in the 15th century. The site is associated with the healing of the soldier Pietro Falco, recorded in 1428, preserves an image of the Madonna and is visited by numerous pilgrims every year. The local character also includes handmade gnocchi, considered characteristic local products in Teolo, as well as Schissotto, presented as a rustic bread.

For comparing additional destinations as part of broader travel planning, you can also include Trebaseleghe, Cittadella, Sarmeola, Selvazzano Dentro, Camposampiero, Abano Terme, Pontelongo and Monselice.

For the overarching travel overview: Padua.