Abano Terme (known asAbano Bagni until 1924) is a town andcomune in theProvince of Padua, in theVeneto region,Italy, on the eastern slope of theEuganean Hills; it is 10 kilometres (6 mi) southwest by rail fromPadua. Abano Terme's population is 19,062 (2001) (in 1901 it was 4,556).[3]
The town'shot springs andmud baths are an important economic resource.[3] The waters have a temperature of about 80 °C (176 °F).
The baths were known to the Romans asAponi fons orAquae Patavinae. A description of them is given in a letter toTheodoric, the king of theOstrogoths, fromCassiodorus. Some remains of the ancient baths have been discovered (S. Mandruzzato,Trattato dei Bagni d'Abano, Padua, 1789). Anoracle ofGeryon lay near, and the so-calledsortes 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.[3]
The baths were destroyed by theLombards in the 6th century, but they were rebuilt and enlarged when Abano became an autonomouscomune in the 12th century and, again, in the late 14th century. The city was under theRepublic of Venice from 1405 to 1797.
Abano Cathedral, or the cathedral (duomo) of St. Lawrence. The current edifice was erected in 1780 over a pre-existing church which was allegedly destroyed byCangrande della Scala. The bell tower has parts from the 9th/10th and 14th centuries.
The Sanctuary of theMadonna della Salute or of Monteortone (built from 1428). It lies on the site where the Madonna appeared to Pietro Falco, healing his wounds. The church is on the Latin cross plan, with anave and two aisles with threeapses decorated by afrieze. It has with a Baroque portal (1667), a bell tower, presbyteryfrescoes portraying theHistories of St. Peter andVirgin byJacopo da Montagnana (1495) andPalma il Giovane's altarpiece depictingChrist Crucifixed Between St. Augustine and St. Jerome.
Just outside the city is San Daniele Abbey (11th century). 6 km (3.7 mi) from the city is alsoPraglia Abbey, founded in the 11th century byBenedictine monks and rebuilt in 1496–1550. The abbey church of the Assumption, with a marble portal from 1548, has aRenaissance style interior.
