This transport tricycle, now preserved as a historical memento, represents an authentic chapter in spa hospitality. Equipped with a large front luggage rack, it was used in the 20th century to transport the trunks and suitcases of guests arriving by train at the Abano-Montegrotto station, the gateway to the Euganean Spa. It was not uncommon for guests to arrive with multiple trunks and suitcases, a sign of a long and carefully prepared stay.
At that point, the bicycle, guided by hotel staff, would come into play, traveling from the station to the hotel to deliver luggage directly to the property. A simple but essential service.
When European tourism began to develop in modern forms in the early twentieth century, the bicycle—in its two- and three-wheeled work variants—played a silent but essential role: it transported people, goods, and, in spas and seaside resorts, especially vacationers’ luggage. At a time when the automobile was still a privilege of the few, these bicycles guaranteed a widespread and sustainable service throughout Europe.
In Abano, this vehicle became a symbol of discreet and punctual hospitality: the guest’s journey began as soon as they set foot at the station, knowing that their luggage would follow them to the hotel. Today, this tricycle remains a symbol of the bond between tradition and hospitality, and a reminder of a time when the journey to the spa began with the first turn of the pedal.
Displayed today at the entrance to the AbanoRitz, this bicycle is not just a memento of tradition, but a tangible sign of the tradition of hospitality that has made the hotel a renowned destination among Europe’s historic hotels.
