The town of Abano Terme, new home of The Alexander and Buono Festival of Music, is ideal not only for musicians, but anyone wishing to be surrounded by quiet, natural beauty, and some of the world’s greatest art, history, and culture. The word terme actually means “spa,” and as the name implies, Abano Terme is a spa resort in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, close to Padua and Venice, known almost exclusively for relaxation, and a quiet, serene atmosphere designed to indulge the senses.

Padua (Padova) is a large town in the Veneto region near Abano. It is home to the famous University of Padua, which was founded in 1222 by large numbers of students and professors from Bologna, each in search of greater academic freedom. Padua combines successful modern businesses with extraordinary historical sights, and there are many things for a visitor to do there. Some say that Padua is to Italy what Oxford is to England, particularly in terms of its being a great center for learning.

Among the city’s most famous attractions is the Scrovegni Chapel (Cappella degli Scrovegni), which houses priceless frescoes by Giotto. The town center boasts beautiful architecture from several periods, and the churches and galleries offer an extraordinary array of art, from magnificent frescoes to paintings. Also of significance is the Orto Botanico di Padova, the world’s oldest academic botanical garden, dating back from 1544, and still in its original location.

One can easily return to Padua over a number of days in order to take in all of its many attractions, which makes combining these day trips with the Festival an ideal way to accomplish getting to know the city, and the region.

Rounding out the sights is the region’s capital, and crown jewel, Venice. Known by many as “La Serenissima” or the most serene, Venice is replete with history as a trade route, an architectural marvel, and a reputation for being the most beautiful city in the world.

There is seemingly no end to the wonders of Venice, and despite attention to certain aspects such as its gondolas and masked balls, it is very difficult to exaggerate the beauty of the city, or its capacity to fascinate not only the first-time visitor, but also those who return many times.

Like Padua, Venice is ideal for day trips from Abano Terme, being only a half an hour away by train. Also like Padua, Festival participants will find it more than worthy of repeat visits.

back to top