Arquà Petrarca
Discovering Arquà Petrarca
Arquà Petrarca is a small municipality located in the province of Padua, Veneto, with a population of 1827 inhabitants. It is known for being one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, thanks to its location at the foot of the Monti Piccolo and Ventolone, in the Euganean Hills, and its ancient and fascinating history.
Origin of the name
Arquà's name derives from the Latin "Arquatum" or "Arquata", which over the years has been modified to "Arquada" and then to "Arquà". In 1868, after the annexation of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia to the Kingdom of Italy, the municipality was renamed "Arquà Petrarca" in honor of Francesco Petrarca, who spent the last years of his life there.
History of Arquà
Arquà's history is very ancient, as evidenced by the discovery of a prehistoric station dating back to the Bronze Age in the surroundings of Laghetto della Costa, between Arquà and Monselice. Subsequently, the village was inhabited by the Veneti and in the Augustan era, it was annexed to the X Regio Venetia et Histria.
During the Roman era, Arquà was an important strategic station, and many archaeological finds were discovered, such as gravestones and funeral sets, Roman Empire coins, and drainage pipes for water discharge. In the Middle Ages, a castle inhabited by Rudolph Normann was built, as attested in a document from AD 985.
In the medieval village, there are two places of worship, one dedicated to Santa Maria and the other to SS. Trinity, both equipped with a baptismal font. In 1213, Arquà passed from the Este family to the communal age of Padua, later becoming a city signoria, and then an imperial vicarage. In 1322, during the war between Carrara and Della Scala, the castle was destroyed.
Francesco Petrarca
In 1364, Francesco Petrarca discovered Arquà while staying in Abano Terme to undergo the thermal treatments prescribed for his scabies. A few years later, in 1369, he obtained some lands in Arquà, where he decided to settle to spend the last years of his life, which ended in 1374. During his stay in Arquà, Petrarca wrote many of his most important works and left an indelible mark on the history and culture of the village.
Arquà under Venetian rule
In 1405, the Republic of Venice took over the Carrara domain, and Arquà maintained a vast vicarial jurisdiction that included many other centers in the Euganean area, such as Baone, Galzignano Terme, Montegrotto Terme, Abano Terme, and Valbona. During Venetian rule, Arquà experienced a period of splendor and cultural development, thanks also to the presence of numerous noble families and renowned artists.
The Laghetto della Costa
In the municipality of Arquà Petrarca is located the Laghetto della Costa, one of the prehistoric pile-dwelling sites around the Alps, since 2011 a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Italy. This site was discovered in the 1980s and has yielded many valuable archaeological finds, such as ceramics and bronze objects.
Conclusion
Arquà Petrarca is a village rich in history and culture, which has managed to preserve over time its ancient traditions and natural beauty. Thanks to the presence of Francesco Petrarca, the village has become a place of cultural pilgrimage for many visitors from all over the world. If you are looking for a picturesque and historically rich place, Arquà Petrarca is definitely the place for you.
