Arquà Petrarca is a small town right in the heart of the Euganean Hills in the Province of Padua. Renamed in the name of Francesco Petrarca in 1868, at the time of Veneto's annexation to the Kingdom of Italy, this attractive town is the ideal location for a gentle walk among ancient edifices and stunning stone buildings. The lanes that run betwixt and between the artisan's stores and shops selling local delicacies are filled with an intimate and peaceful atmosphere that seems suspended in time where, surrounded by a landscape almost completely unaltered by the passage of time, the poet penned some of his final verses "in complete tranquillity, far from tumult, from noise, from everyday life". Petrarca's House, located in the upper part of the village, has been a pilgrimage destination for the poet's followers since the late Middle Ages and today houses a particularly interesting museum. The poet died in Arquà in 1374 and his tomb can be found in the centre of the beautiful parish church courtyard located in the lower part of the town.
Local cuisine, traditional dishes, interesting facts
This village's wonders do not end with this historical and naturalistic repertoire, it also has a rich gastronomic heritage. Thanks to its wide variety of farms and vineyards, the area boasts a large number of high quality red and white wines, from Serprino to Merlot, and from Pinot Blanc to Tocai. In addition to this wonderful selection of wines, there is an excellent DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) olive oil, light and easily digested. One of the many locally grown products is the jujube, a fruit which is used to make the traditional "Brodo di Giuggiole" ("Jujube Stock") liqueur.
Where to eat enjoying a bottle of Acqua San Benedetto
Ser Petracco Enoristorante
Via Jacopo d’Arqua’ 1
Ristorante "La Montanella"
Via dei Carraresi, 9
Arqua' Petrarca (PD)
