Abano Terme | |
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Comune | |
Comune di Abano Terme | |
Tower of Monteortone church
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Location of Abano Terme in Italy | |
Coordinates: 45°21′37″N 11°47′24″E / 45.36028°N 11.79000°ECoordinates: 45°21′37″N 11°47′24″E / 45.36028°N 11.79000°E | |
Country | Italy |
Region | Veneto |
Province / Metropolitan city | Padua (PD) |
Frazioni | Feriole, Giarre, Monterosso, Monteortone |
Government | |
• Mayor | Luca Claudio |
Area | |
• Total | 21 km2 (8 sq mi) |
Elevation | 14 m (46 ft) |
Population (2006) | |
• Total | 19,062 |
• Density | 910/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
Demonym(s) | Aponensi or Abanesi |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Postal code | 35031 |
Dialing code | 049 |
Patron saint | St. Lawrence |
Saint day | August 10 |
Website | www |
Abano Terme (known as Abano Bagni until 1924) is a town and comune in the province of Padua, in the Veneto region, Italy, on the eastern slope of the Colli Euganei; it is 10 kilometres (6 mi) southwest by rail from Padua. Abano Terme's population is 19,062 (2001) (in 1901 it was only 4,556).
The town's hot springs and mud baths are the main economic resource. The waters have a temperature of some 80 °C (176 °F)
The baths were known to the Romans as Aponi fons or Aquae Patavinae. A description of them is given in a letter to Theodoric, the king of the Ostrogoths, from Cassiodorus. Some remains of the ancient baths have been discovered (S. Mandruzzato, Trattato dei Bagni d'Abano, Padua, 1789). An oracle of Geryon lay near, and the so-called sortes Praenestinae (C.I.L. i., Berlin, 1863; 1438–1454), small bronze cylinders inscribed, and used as oracles, were perhaps found here in the 16th century.
The baths were destroyed by the Lombards in the 6th century, but they were rebuilt and enlarged when Abano became an autonomous comune in the 12th century and, again, in the late 14th century. The city was under the Republic of Venice from 1405 to 1797.
Just outside the city is San Daniele Abbey (11th century). 6 km from the city is also Praglia Abbey, founded in the 11th century by Benedictine monks and rebuilt in 1496–1550. The abbey church of the Assumption, with a marble portal from 1548, has a Renaissance style interior. Noteworthy is the four cloister complex.