Just a few minutes’ walk from the AbanoRitz is Villa Bassi Rathgeb, a splendid Renaissance residence that now houses the Abano Terme Civic Museum. Built between 1566 and 1576 for the physician Giovanni Antonio Secco, the villa is a prototype of a Venetian villa, with frescoed interiors and rooms that recount centuries of artistic and cultural history.
The museum was founded thanks to the generous donation of the art collection of intellectual and collector Roberto Bassi Rathgeb, which includes paintings, drawings, engravings, sculptures, furniture, and archaeological artifacts.
In recent years, Villa Bassi has consolidated its reputation as a prominent exhibition space, with exhibitions that maintain a strong dialogue between past and present.
In recent months, the Museum is presenting an exhibition that combines history, drawing, and artistic experimentation:
“Leonor Fini and the Bassi Rathgeb Graphic Collection. Signs and Inventions from the Renaissance to the Twentieth Century,” open from November 22, 2025, to March 15, 2026.
This exhibition is a true journey through time, featuring approximately 80 graphic works, including drawings and prints, spanning over five centuries of art: from Renaissance drawings to the 20th-century works of painter Leonor Fini, a free-spirited and unconventional artist, renowned for her dreamlike visions and her connection to surrealism.
The exhibition is divided into thematic sections in the underground spaces and frescoed rooms on the main floor, featuring works by great masters such as Giandomenico Tiepolo, Bernardino Campi, and Francesco Hayez, and, in the more contemporary section, Fini’s own graphic art.
Visiting it is a perfect way to add a touch of local culture to your spa stay: a stimulating break, and when you return to the AbanoRitz, you can discuss the experience over a hot tea or during dinner, with the art still in your eyes.
Villa Bassi Rathgeb is more than just a museum: it’s a place where history, art, and reflection meet in the heart of Abano Terme. Thanks to its proximity to the AbanoRitz, it’s an ideal destination for an afternoon cultural stroll or a visit before a traditional dinner in the city. Whether you’re an art lover or looking for new inspiration, the current exhibitions offer rich and engaging insights to enrich your spa stay.
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