Discover what to do in Carceri in the Province of Padua: Villa Carminati, a bike ride in Carceri, the Frassine River. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Carceri?
The municipality of Carceri borders north with Ospedaletto Euganeo, east and northeast with Este, south with Vighizzolo d’Este, and west with Ponso.
Villa Carminati
Located at Via dei Camaldoli, 4, Villa Carminati is part of the Abbey of Santa Maria delle Carceri.
Built over three floors, the building has a rectangular layout and can be accessed from the northwest through a massive arched wooden portal framed by an elegant rusticated cladding. Above the main door stands a single-light window adorned with a projecting balcony and crowned by a round arch.
At the top of the villa, in a central position, stands a refined dormer window, in the middle of which opens a three-light window rhythmically marked by pilasters. The six pilasters are topped by a triangular pediment with projecting moulded frames.
If you’re wondering what to do in Carceri and are curious to see this sumptuous building with your own eyes and learn about its history, visiting the Abbey of Santa Maria delle Carceri will be an unforgettable experience!
Bike ride in Carceri
The starting point of the short recommended itinerary is the parking area of the municipal offices in Piazza Europa. Leave the town hall entrance behind you and turn left onto Via Roma. At the roundabout, take the first exit and follow Viale Camaldoli under the shade of lime trees until you reach the impressive bulk of the Abbey of Santa Maria delle Carceri.
Turn left onto Via Guglielmo Marconi and continue to the intersection, then turn right. Keep going along Via Chiesa, Via degora al di là and Via Cancello for 2 km, then take the cycle path on your right, uphill.
Once you reach the top of the embankment, keep left and continue south along the cycle route that runs parallel to Via Cancello, then cross the bridge on Via Calcatonega and take the cycle path on your left.
Cycle path along the Frassine River
From the privileged vantage point of the Frassine River embankment, you can enjoy a wide-reaching view of the river and countryside landscape of Carceri, marked by lush vineyards, endless stretches of cornfields and golden wheat fields crossed by the winding course of the Frassine, whose grassy banks are home to flourishing hedges of willows, alders, elms, elder trees, walnuts, mulberries and field maples.
After about 2.3 km, you will find the Torre Marchionale on your right, a spectacular medieval defensive structure framed by two lively waterways.
After the monumental military structure in exposed brick, turn right and follow the cycle path along Via Padana inferiore. After 700 metres, at the roundabout take the second exit. Also take the second exit at the next two roundabouts. After passing the IPIA Enrico Fermi institute, at the roundabout take the first exit onto Via Cesare Battisti. After the railway underpass, keep right on Via Prà, then turn right onto Via Giulia Fogolari. Follow Via Giulia Fogolari for 200 metres, then take the cycle path on your left that leads into the Restera nature oasis.
Follow the cycle path for 1.7 km, then keep right onto Via Calcatonega. Cross the bridge on your right, continue along Via Calcatonega and pass the second bridge over the Frassine River, then turn left onto Via Cancello. From here you can head back to the starting point.
If you’re wondering what to do in Carceri and want to be immersed in a peaceful, quiet and untouched atmosphere, the cycling and walking route offers memorable glimpses of the natural and historical scenery of the municipalities of Este and Carceri, from an ancient abbey immersed in the boundless countryside of the Lower Padua area to monumental medieval fortifications surrounded by greenery.
