Sentiero del Principe – Este

Description

The Sentiero del Principe in Este (Padua) is the route that links literary sites in the "Parco letterario della Collina estense": e.g. Castle of the Troubadours who praised Beatrice, arco del Falconetto del Cornaro a patron of Ruzante; villa ex Kunkler, where Shelley wrote some of his most famous works and Calaone, with an option that includes the former convento of Salarola. The route comprises some of the most interesting architectural monuments in Este such as Villa Vigna Contarena and Palazzo del Principe, along with many natural wonders, from the ancient pine forest to native plants.
The first part of the route begins in via dei Cappuccini in the historical centre of Este, beside the arco del Falconetto. It continues through the walls that encircle the ancient gardens of the noble villas of Este until it reaches a large open space behind the castle keep; the route then heads upwards, flanking the ancient pine forest, to the Palazzo del Principe. From here, it follows the old road to the borgo of Calaone, with wide open views on the eastern hills, the plain and elegant rural hedgerows and gardens. From Calaone, the old road continues down, with a deviation onto a stretch of path that has recently been restructured, until the bend in the main road that leads to Este.
The sentiero del Principe, in the south-eastern part of the park, offers the opportunity to contemplate a landscape typical of the area between the Euganean hills and the surrounding Veneto plain. Towards the West, on the side of the Palazzo del Principe, the eye is drawn to the gentle slopes at the foot of mount Cero, beside a wide open plain whose main features are the man-made canals and hydraulic systems.

Position on map