Italy’s Hidden Thermal Gem: Why You Should Visit La Contea Spa Now!
This establishment is part of the thermal district of the Euganean Hills in Veneto. The waters here are hyperthermal, with a source temperature of 80°C, rich in minerals, and used for therapeutic treatments and total psycho-physical well-being.
La Contea Spa in Battaglia Terme
La Contea Spa is the thermal center of Battaglia Terme, a health facility affiliated with the National Health Service for all types of treatments using thermal waters from the Lessini Mountains. Located about ten kilometers from Padua, it is one of the most important healing spa centers in the world-famous Euganean Hills thermal district.
Unlike most spas in nearby Abano, Montegrotto, and Galzignano, Terme di Battaglia offers a wellness experience more focused on therapeutic treatments. However, it still features classic pools for those who want to relax in hot water year-round.
Thermal Waters and Treatments
The La Contea Spa uses a spring whose waters originate in the Lessini Mountains in the Prealps. After seeping underground to depths of 2,000-3,000 meters, the waters take years to travel about 80 km through the earth before emerging at the Battaglia Terme source.
During this long journey, the waters absorb trace elements that make them highly beneficial for healing. They emerge at around 80°C, enriched with iron, iodine, bromine, fluorine, hydrogen sulfide, and other salts, making them particularly effective for:
- Mud therapy
- Inhalation treatments
- Vascular baths
- Hydrokinesitherapy
These waters are classified as salt-bromine-iodine, hyperthermal, and radioactive. Thanks to their maturation in the salt-bromine-iodine waters of Battaglia, the mud used at Terme La Contea has received the European DOC patent for its curative properties, particularly for:
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Pain relief
- Muscle relaxation
- Metabolic stimulation
The thermal waters are also used for inhalation treatments for ENT conditions and rhinogenic deafness, as well as for vascular treatments targeting circulatory disorders. The vascular therapy includes two pools:
- A cold pool (24°C)
- A hot pool (34°C) with hydromassage
La Contea also offers:
- Balneotherapy
- Anthrotherapy with 45°C thermal steam (humidity close to 100%)
- A thermal cave beneath Sant’Elena Hill
For both adults and children, La Contea Spa provides outdoor and indoor thermal pools, open year-round, including:
- A pool with a diving board and slides
- A swimming pool for free swimming
- A shallow children’s pool
- Hydromassage tubs
Additional facilities include:
- A large green area surrounding the pool area
- A children’s playground
- Swimming lessons and aquagym for both kids and adults
Entrance Fees (Updated 2023)
- Baby (1 – 4 years): €5.00
- Reduced (5 – 10 years): €12.00
- Adults: €18.00
- Evening Entrance (5:30 PM – 8:00 PM, Adults/Children): €12.00
- Free Swimming (Monday-Friday, 2 hours): €12.00
- Free Swimming for Children (Monday-Friday, 2 hours): €8.00
- SPA Entrance (16+ years, with reservation): €30 (Tuesday-Friday), €35 (weekends/holidays)
- Umbrella & 2 sunbeds: €5.00
Opening Hours
- Monday: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday, Sunday, Holidays: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
History of the Spa
The hot spring flowing from the cave below Villa Selvatico-Capodilista and the four hot lakes (now included in the spa’s park) have been known since Roman times, like most Euganean springs.
The first recorded use of the thermal waters for healing dates back to shortly after 1000 AD, when a hospital for the poor was built on Sant’Elena Hill, using the therapeutic properties of the spring.
The current La Contea Spa is relatively recent, inaugurated in 1979.
Useful Information for Visiting the Spa
Address, Telephone, and Official Website
📍 La Contea Spa
📍 Via F. Petrarca, 11, 35041 Battaglia Terme PD, Italy
📞 +39 049 525582 (Info & Reservations)
🌍 termelacontea.com
How to Get There
- By Train: Take a train on the Venice-Padua-Bologna railway line. The Battaglia Terme FS station is just a 10-minute walk from the spa. Travel time from Padua is about 30 minutes.
- By Car:
- From Padua or Bologna, take the A13 motorway, exiting at Terme Euganee, just 2 km from La Contea Spa.
- From Bologna, the drive takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
