Especially in winter, a place I love to "take refuge" is thePetrarca hotels, a three-star superior hotel in the locality of Abano Terme. This small village is located in the province of Padua and together with Abano Terme forms a real spa renowned in Veneto but also throughout Italy.
I have stayed at several structures in this area but the only structure that I would like to recommend is this one. Although the façade of the hotel is not one of the most renovated and in some standard rooms there is still carpet on the floor, this is the only spa facility that can boast a complex of 7 pools inside.
Both in Abano Terme and in Montegrotto Terme there are much more modern and innovative hotels where, however, they offer thermal puddles, certainly not swimming pools (which is why you usually go to the spas).
The Petrarca Hotel has 5 thermal pools, indoor and outdoor with internal connection between one and the other, and two non-thermal and outdoor pools including one Olympic swimming pool and a small swimming pool with very shallow water where you can sunbathe in the summer or where children can play.
The swimming pool area is completely renovated and well maintained. Those staying in the hotel can access it directly from the rooms and for those who are passing through or live in the area they can still access it by paying the daily entrance.
In the area of the thermal pools there is also the wellness center where with the same price as the entrance to the swimming pools you can access the Turkish bath and the sauna (renovated this year). Apart from the beauty treatments, massages and this year's new entry: the Salt cave, a must try.
Also in the swimming pool area there is a bar and a room with tables, chairs and machines with snacks and drinks where you can stop for lunch or dinner even the packed lunch brought from home. Adjacent instead are the changing rooms with showers and lockers (available under a deposit of 10 euros per padlock) for those who do not stay in the hotel.
For those staying in hotels, the structure has superior rooms and standard rooms, some recently renovated, others less but in any case very welcoming, clean and spacious. Prices of rooms they are not really low cost but certainly in the average of the spa hotels and considering all the services available I would say that the prices are good. On the website of the hotel, however, you can also often find numerous low cost offers in half board with entrance to the swimming pool area and massages included.
The cuisine is very good restaurant where you can choose between 4 starters, 4 seconds, 3 hot side dishes, desserts and always available the buffet with hot and cold appetizers where there is plenty of choice. The breakfast is equally abundant with a sweet and savory buffet, while the drinks are prepared directly in the kitchen and there is no need to drink the terrible coffee or cappuccino of the machines.
The Petrarca Hotel is located in a strategic position as they can be reached in about an hour Venezia, Verona, the park of Gardaland and in a few minutes the city of Padova. It is a great place to stay as it allows you to visit the main cities of Veneto and enjoy the thermal pools even in the evening as they are open until 23pm!
